Low pressure developed off the South Carolina coast and steadily strengthened as it moved northward across the coastal waters of North Carolina, the Virginia tidewater and eventually out to sea. Rapid strengthening occurred as a strong upper level disturbance rotated around an upper low that was crossing the southeast states. As the cyclone strengthened, abundant moisture was wrapped around the storm and thrown back against the higher terrain of the Carolinas, resulting in high winds and very heavy snow.The heaviest snow accumulations were in far western North Carolina. The highest accumulations were 24 to 30 inches at Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Newland in Avery County, at Mount Mitchell in southern Yancey County  and in a narrow swath along the border between Madison and Haywood counties. However, accumulations of over a foot were reported from most mountain counties, including Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Mitchell, and Transylvania. Accumulations of over a foot also extended into the extreme western foothills, where Jonas Ridge and Little Switzerland each recorded between 12 and 16 inches of snow. East of the higher terrain, snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 5 inches from northern Caldwell county southward to Morganton, Marion, Lake Lure and Tryon. Isolated 2 inch amounts came from as far east as Casar in northern Cleveland County.Wind damage was far more widespread than the heavy snow, for most foothill and piedmont areas experienced numerous downed trees and power lines, although damage appeared to take on a more scattered character as one moved east away from the higher terrain. The highest wind gust was an estimated 80 knots from a cooperative observer at Flat Top Mountain in southeast Buncombe County.

Heavy Snow in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in MITCHELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in HAYWOOD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in CLEVELAND, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in AVERY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy Snow in YANCEY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 20-MAR-01 08:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 22:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Heavy, wet snow accumulated from early morning, through the day and into the evening in some locations. Combined with the wind, numerous power outages resulted and many thousands of trees were downed. Numerous traffic accidents resulted from the weather, causing fatalities and injuries in some cases.