First snow of the season hits Cashiers
By Justin Caudell
Printed in the Crossroads Chronicle 1/2/08
Old man winter showed his face for this first time this season Tuesday, December
25, granting a white Christmas for those in the Cashiers area who wanted one. But it
probably did not pack enough water once it melted to aid the rain deficit on the year.
According to Cashiers Weather Service, the area likely finished 2007 fifteen
inches shy of rain under historical averages with 60 inches of rain recorded, although
complete records for the year won’t be verified until next week. Cashiers’ annual yearly
rainfall is 75 inches of rain.
Across Western North Carolina, preliminary data from the National Climatic Center
shows the seventeen counties west of Charlotte has tallied only an average of 33.93
inches of rain over the past twelve months. If the final total does not increase by at least
two inches, the plateau will have beat out 1930 as the driest year on record.
The low pressure that combined with a cold front late last Tuesday evening provided
enough moisture to drop one inch of the white powder. Although, it only measured out
to about a half inch of ground water once temperatures rose to melt the snow. The
same system dumped more precipitation on Cashiers last weekend, but it also did not
pack enough wetness to help the dry spots.
To keep any eye on if more wintry precipitation is on the way to start 2008 off right,
visit www.issnowontheway.com.