Powerful winds to continue through night in mountains, foothills

Strong winds knocked out power to thousands of people in the mountains.

Those in the high country are bracing for another night where winds could be as strong as a Category 1 hurricane.

Winds in Burke County, Rowan County, Avery County and Buncombe County had wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour.

Snow fell in the Blowing Rock area Friday morning, but the heavy wind has been blowing for nearly 20 hours.

Just outside of Blowing Rock, power crews with Blue Ridge Electric showed Channel 9 where trees took down power lines in the Blackberry community of Caldwell County.

Several linemen worked through the night restoring power to thousands of people in Watauga and Caldwell counties.

"It's been tough. The wind has been really tough,” said Tim Jones, a Blue Ridge lineman.  “The cold has not been too bad, but the 60-mile per hour winds have been unbearable."

Firefighters across the high country and the foothills responded to trees blown over by the wind.

"The rain and the stuff we have had kind of loosens those roots up,” said Jamie Coffey of Blowing Rock Fire.

On the campus of Appalachian State University, students struggled to stay upright at times on their way to classes.

"I kind of can't believe it,” student Sophia SanMiguel said. “My hat has been blown off six or seven times walking down River Street."

"I feel like I'm gonna get knocked over. Strong winds, gotta bundle up,” student Amber Gearhart said.

Those winds are expected to remain strong in the mountains through the night where temperatures will again fall below freezing.

Cox Media Group