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Snow falls in North Carolina mountains Monday

BLOWING ROCK — Snow began falling in the North Carolina mountains on Monday morning.

Winter weather even forced Avery County Schools to release students early.

Officials said the snow and freezing temperatures could cause a problem for drivers.

A Charlotte couple came to Blowing Rock this past weekend to see snow and go skiing. However the Queen City may get more snow than the couple saw in the mountains.

"I guess we'll see what happens when we get back down in town. It is awesome," said visitor Jesse Rushing.

"I think we actually may see more snow. More snow in Charlotte? Yes. It is OK. We're kind of getting used to it by now," said visitor Jacqueline Brooks.

Paul Wellman went to the mountains Monday with a friend, traveling the same route Channel 9 Reporter Dave Faherty did from Hickory. He saw the weather transition from rain to snow about 10 miles north of Lenoir and then not let up.

"It was a mixture of rain and snow flurries and as soon as we got up here it got worse and worse," said Wellman.

Because of the warmer temperatures this weekend the snow did not immediately stick to the roadways, keeping the plow trucks sidelined this afternoon. Drivers in Blowing Rock do not expect that to last for long.

"When you see it hitting the ground that's basically when you know what it's going to be like because everyone has something different to say about it so we'll wait and see," said Mark Pierce with the North Carolina DOT.

The temperature is below freezing and this could cause problems for drivers later tonight.