Although temperatures are currently warmer in western North Carolina, the National Weather Service has issued a number of weather warnings for the area on Friday, December 19th.
A thunderstorm warning for central North Carolina is leading to a warm and windy morning across the region. Western North Carolina has not seen any such warnings, but the weather service’s early morning warning advises area residents to remain cautious through the night of Dec. 19 due to high winds.
As for the coming week, the National Weather Service forecast appears to refute claims of Christmas snow in the region and across the state. Here’s what you need to know today, this weekend and before Christmas.
Wind Advisory for Asheville, Buncombe County
Federal agencies issued a wind warning at 1:16 a.m. Friday, December 19. The warning applies to Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Swain, Haywood, Buncombe, Graham, North Jackson, Macon and South Jackson counties, including the cities of Kyle, Kay Hills, Rainbow Springs, Faust and Highland.
The advisory is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 and applies to communities above 3,500 feet above sea level. Northwesterly winds of 20-30 mph with gusts of 45-55 mph are expected in the higher elevations of western North Carolina. At this intensity, winds can blow over unsafe objects and possibly down tree branches, potentially causing several power outages.
The alert advises people in affected areas to protect outdoor objects that may be blown away by the wind and to use extreme caution when driving, especially high-profile vehicles.
North Carolina Weather Warning: Thunderstorms expected across central region
Ahead of the approaching cold front, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for several counties in the central part of the state from the night of December 18 to the morning of Friday, December 19, ABC reported. Affected counties include Alamance, Chatham, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Durham and Randolph counties. The warning has expired and the weather is warm and breezy.
Christmas Weather Asheville, NC, 2025: Will it snow on Christmas Day?
Despite conflicting long-term forecasts from the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the National Weather Service is not predicting any snow on Christmas Day in the Asheville area. In fact, the weather forecast is calling for sunny skies on the big day, with temperatures expected to be near 67 degrees.
North Carolina Weather Radar
Asheville Weekend Weather Forecast
Friday, December 19 – Sunny, with a high near 45 degrees. Breezy, northwest wind 18-22 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Overnight, the weather will be sunny with a low of about 25 degrees. North northwest wind 9-14 mph, becoming light northwest wind after 12 noon, with gusts possible as high as 23 mph.
Saturday, December 20 – Sunny, with a high near 56 degrees. Calm winds will become south-southeast at 5-8 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather was sunny with a low of about 32 degrees. South southeast wind around 5 mph, becoming calm.
Sunday, December 21 – Mostly sunny, with a high near 54 degrees. Northwest wind 7-11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. It will be sunny and cloudy at night, with the lowest temperature around 26 degrees.
Hendersonville Weekend Weather Forecast
Friday, December 19 – Sunny, with a maximum temperature near 48 degrees. Northwest wind 15-18 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Overnight, the weather was sunny with a minimum temperature of about 28 degrees. Northwest wind 8-13 mph, becoming light northwest after 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 20 – Sunny, with a maximum temperature near 52 degrees. Calm winds will become southerly at 5-8 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, the weather was sunny with a minimum temperature of about 34 degrees. South wind around 6 mph, becoming west northwest after 12 noon
Sunday, December 21 – Sunny, with a high near 54 degrees. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Overnight, the weather was sunny with a minimum temperature of about 29 degrees.
Iris Seaton is a popular news reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times, a USA TODAY Network affiliate. Contact her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times: Western North Carolina Weather: Dec. 19 Advisory, Early Christmas Outlook