Blanketed

A foot or more of snow covers the High Country

By Melanie Davis

A snow storm dumped as much as 12 inches at the higher elevations in Watauga County on Sunday.

Snowdrifts blanket the High Country following Sunday’s record-breaking storm. Photo by Rob Moore

Watauga County Schools were cancelled Monday, the 16th snow day this school year with two being made up. According the school system Web site, schools are scheduled to be in session Saturday to make up the missed day. Saturday make-up days are on early-release schedule with elementary schools releasing at noon and high school to release at 1 p.m.

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation reported approximately 6,000 members experienced power outages Sunday, due to snowfall and high winds.

The largest outage affected 5,000 people in the Sherwood community of Watauga County. An additional 130 customers in the Laurel Fork area were without power as of 10 p.m. Sunday night.

BREMCO crews worked throughout the night to restore service.

As of 5:30 a.m., 70 homes in Watauga remained without service with crews continuing work.

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va., warns that temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing Monday, limiting the melting process. Winds of 10 to 20 mph are expected with gusts up to 35 mph are expected in the afternoon. NWS says travel is discouraged across the region.

A spokesperson for the N.C. Highway Patrol said there were several traffic accidents reported Sunday, however, the troopers were still tied up with collisions Monday at 10 a.m. and the exact number was not available.