Immediately on the heels of the intense Arctic outbreak that spread into the region on the 14th and 15th came the most significant snow storm to affect the region since February 12th and 13th of 2014.  The snow storm was the result of a strong upper-level disturbance tracking from the central U.S. into the eastern U.S. on top of the bitterly cold Arctic air mass.  A surface low pressure area tracked across the southeast states to off the North Carolina coast, a fairly typical scenario for bigger snowfall events within the region.  Temperatures had little to no time to recover at all from the bitterly cold temperatures of the 15th.  As snow spread into the region during the late morning and early afternoon hours of the 16th, temperatures were only in the upper teens to lower 20s across the region and fell back into the 10 to 20 degree range across much of the region area during the heavier snow. Snowfall amounts were significant in many areas, ranging from 3 to 4 inches across the Piedmont, where some sleet mixed in during the later part of the event, to 8 to 11 inches across the New River Valley, Greenbrier Valley, and Tazewell county in far southwest Virginia.  Here are the snowfall amounts from the northwest and north central North Carolina counties within our forecast area:
Alleghany County - 5.5 to 5.0 inches in the Glade Valley area,
Ashe County - 5.3 inches near Shatley Springs to 3.0 inches 2SSE of Fleetwood,
Caswell County - 3.8 inches 3NE Pelham to 2.0 inches at Yanceyville (1/2 inch of this was sleet),
Rockingham County - 4.0 inches 3ENE Stoneville to 2.0 inches at Monroeton,
Stokes County - 5.0 inches at King to 3.0 inches at Lawsonville,
Surry County - 4.0 inches at Mt. Airy to 3.0 inches at Westfield,
Watauga County - 6.0 inches at Blowing Rock to 3.0 inches at Zionville,
Wilkes County - 4.7 inches at Hays to 3.0 inches near North Wilkesboro.

Winter Storm in ASHE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 09:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters and the public measured 4.5 to 5.0 inches in West Jefferson to 5.3 inches 1W of Shatley Springs.

Winter Storm in STOKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 10:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter measured 5.0 inches of snow in King while another spotter measured 4.5 inches of snow and some sleet near Lawsonville.  Elsewhere around the county, reports of snow ranged from 3.0 to 4.0 inches in the Pinnancle, Pine Hall, and Meadows areas.

Winter Storm in SURRY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 10:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Surry County Sheriff's Office reported 5.0 inches of snow 2E of Ladonia.  The public measured 4.0 inches of snow 4SW of Westfield.  An amateur radio operator measured 4.0 inches of snow in Mount Airy.

Winter Storm in WILKES, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 10:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Wilkes County Fire Department measured 4.7 inches of snow in Hays while the public observed 3.0 inches of snow just south of North Wilkesboro.

Winter Storm in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 09:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Watauga County Sheriff's Office measured 6.0 inches of snow at Blowing Rock.  Trained spotters measured 5.0 inches of snow at Deep Gap and 4.0 inches of snow at Todd.

Winter Storm in ALLEGHANY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 16-FEB-15 09:00:00 to 17-FEB-15 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed 5.0 to 5.5 inches of snow in the Glade Valley area.