Winter returns for residents of the High Country

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — The calendar says it is spring but it looked and felt more like winter in the North Carolina mountains Tuesday morning.

Residents saw the snow falling very hard all morning, even in the foothills near Lenoir.

It was a few degrees colder in the mountains, where there were problems just outside of Blowing Rock, along Highway 321. In Avery County officials had to shut down a portion of Highway 221 for about an hour.

Because the temperatures have been warmer during the last week, the road conditions improved quickly as the morning progressed and as the Department of Transportation scrambled to lay salt down on the pavement.

The return of winter was a real shock to the system for those ready for spring.

"It don't feel like spring. It was yesterday, wasn't too bad. It is cold. The last few years it has been a little warmer," said Tony Banner.

Winter is not over for folks in the North Carolina High Country, where they are expecting very cold temperatures Tuesday night and another chance of snow after sunset.

WSOC