See photos of sledding, snow days and piles of snow.
During the week of Dec. 9, 1989, McDowell experienced its first winter storm for 1989-1990. In this photo, a tractor-trailer went out of control because of the snow-slick roads and hit the side of an embankment while heading south on N.C. 226. This was one of the 15 local accidents reported over that weekend. According to a witness, there were no injuries in this wreck.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS
Marion was still digging out from a record-breaking snowfall that left 14 inches of snow on the ground. “Even though there was a large pile of snow through the center of the street, state and city maintenance crews had most of the streets and roads in excellent condition by noon,” reported The McDowell News. This allowed shoppers to crowd the streets of Marion as they looked for Christmas gifts.
Twenty-four years ago this week, a winter storm system during the start of spring caught many people off guard. But 10-year-old Zachary Wall used the unexpected day off from school to play in the snow.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
Snow was falling on Hankins Road in Marion on Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, 2025.
MIKE CONLEY/MCDOWELL NEWS
Twenty-five years ago this week, Brian Berryhill, an employee of Spencer’s Hardware, looked over some of the shovels for sale at the store. Shovels would be needed in McDowell during that week because of the snow and ice that fell over the county.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS
Forty-six years ago this week, this was the scene on Sugar Hill Road when both lanes of traffic were blocked and travel was reduced to a crawl. Snow and ice on the road and two automobile accidents caused the highway to be blocked for most of one Thursday afternoon. About 23 accidents occurred in the county that day because of the winter snow storm between 2:30 and 8 p.m.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS
Pauline Hollifield of Circle Street in Clinchfield was injured in a two-car wreck on Sugar Hill Road near the Country Market. Her 1973 Ford was struck in the rear by a 1968 Buick driven by David Lee Cheek of Route 4, Marion. This wreck was only one of the approximately 20 reported in McDowell County between 2:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday that week. Snow and ice covered the county’s highways creating extremely hazardous driving conditions.
In February 1985, McDowell County saw some snowfall with some areas reporting as many as 5 inches. The accumulation happened overnight but when the sun broke through the clouds, the county turned into a winter wonderland where even horses stood still for a quick photo. This particular horse was found surrounded by the white stuff on Greenlee Road in Pleasant Gardens. Weather reports called for more snow to fall over McDowell County.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS
During the week of Jan. 23, 2000, McDowell County got a lot of winter weather. Schools were canceled during Monday and Tuesday that week because of snow. In this picture, Matthew Pressley took a spill as he frolicked in the snow at East McDowell Junior High School. He was among the many people who gathered at the school’s track to have a little wintertime fun. Later in the week, ice blanketed the county that was still digging out from the snow.
Adam Jolly, 14, and Clarrisa Lyons, 3, enjoyed the snow at East McDowell Junior High School in January 2000. The steep slope next to the school’s track attracted a lot of folks with sleds and snowboards. Clarissa’s parents said they couldn’t talk her into coming out of the cold.
In January 1996, Nateara Wall, the 12-year-old granddaughter of Warren and Erina Wall, stood on top of this “mountain” of snow in the parking lot of the Little Siena restaurant in the Pleasant Gardens community. McDowell County received 4 to 5 inches of snow on Thursday night and Friday morning that week. Then, a second snow moved quickly through western North Carolina. In addition, freezing rain fell across a number of foothills and mountain counties. Workers spent that weekend trying to clear the roads of snow and ice.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES PHOTOS
A light layer of snow and sleet fell in McDowell County in November 2002. A total of 3 inches fell in Marion. Guillermo Vargas, left, and Daniel Raygoza walked up a snowy courthouse hill. Vargas and Raygoza, who used to live in Chicago, said they had seen worse.
During the week of Feb. 12, 1987, McDowell County was hit with a winter storm that brought snow and slick conditions on local roads. Interstate 40 on Old Fort Mountain was treacherous but drivable on a Monday afternoon. Tractor-trailer trucks slowly made their way down the mountain with the drivers trying to keep the big rigs from jackknifing across the busy highway.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
During the week of Feb. 12, 1987, McDowell County was hit with a winter storm that brought snow and transformed the local landscape. This photo by Jim Burgin shows the historic log cabins at the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort and it looks like something out a Christmas card.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
During the week of Feb. 12, 1987, McDowell County was hit with a winter storm that brought snow and transformed the local landscape. This photo by Jim Burgin shows the Arrowhead Monument in front of the Old Fort Depot.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
In January 2000, McDowell County and the rest of western North Carolina experienced a winter storm, which brought lots of snow, ice and cold weather to the mountains and foothills. Jimmie Mahan enjoyed his day off from school thanks to Mother Nature. Mahan and his classmates were set to return to school on a two-hour delay, barring any more winter weather.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
In 1983, Allen Stamey, Jake Lambert and Robbie of Marion were out bright and early enjoying the 3-inch snowfall that blanketed the county during the night. Snow, mixed with sleet, was expected to continue falling throughout that day and night with accumulation measuring 4 to 6 inches.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
During the week of Dec. 4, 2003, a massive winter storm swept through western North Carolina and dropped snow and ice on McDowell County and other parts of the state. This photo shows icicles hanging from the rocks on U.S. 221 North.
In April 1982, most McDowell County residents reacted with surprise when they looked out their windows on a Thursday morning and saw huge, white flakes of snow falling in the springtime. Although snow fell throughout the day, there was little accumulation. Schools dismissed at 11 a.m. that day but reopened a day later on a normal schedule. The highways remained relatively clear of snow but the state troopers were still busy investigating accidents such as this one.
PHOTOS FROM THE MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
During the week of March 6, 1978, a winter storm hit McDowell County at 1 p.m. on a Thursday and left 6 inches of snow. The winter storm left local roads impassable, motorists stranded and caused numerous traffic accidents. This was the scene on Sugar Hill Road at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday when both lanes of traffic were blocked and travel was reduced to a crawl. About 20 accidents occurred in McDowell County between 2:30 and 8 p.m. that day because of the winter storm.
In February 1983, The McDowell News published this photo of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in the Sugar Hill community framed by snow.
In January 2004, snow and ice gripped McDowell County during a winter storm. In this photo, city of Marion workers spent a big part of a day spreading salt and shoveling snow and ice off the sidewalks of Main Street downtown.
PHOTOS FROM THE MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
In January 2004, Erica Foreman, 11, spent a cold Tuesday afternoon enjoying the snow with her family and sledding downhill at West McDowell Junior High School. Erica and other students had to make up for the snow days though.
During the week of Jan. 16, 1987, as many as 8 inches of snow had fallen in McDowell County at about 10:30 p.m. one night and it became progressively heavier by 1:30 a.m. It continued to fall later into the morning. The sides of local roads were dotted with stranded automobiles and people were walking to work while city and state maintenance crews took to the streets with salt and sand. This photo by Jim Burgin shows downtown Marion looking like a Christmas card.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
During the week of Jan. 9, 1978, a snow storm in McDowell County forced schools to send students home early. This school bus was involved in an accident on Airport Road near Hilltop House.
During the week of Jan. 17, 1987, up to 8 inches of snow fell on McDowell County one night and the next morning. It covered this sign on Interstate 40. Officials with the N.C. Highway Patrol said it was wise to not even bother driving that day and home was the best place to be.
Up to 8 inches of snow fell on McDowell County one night and the next morning in January 1987. A worker piled snow along the side of Main Street in Marion, clearing the way for traffic.
In February 1983, a weekend snowfall blanketed McDowell and left four to five inches of snow, which closed schools and caused some serious traffic accidents. But during the snow, some kids enjoyed some wintertime fun. This 12-foot-high polar bear was crafted by Boyd Phillips, Misty the dog and Nolan Burgin, all of North Cove. They worked about three hours on Sunday to build this big snowbear. Assisting them were Doris Phillips and Benny and Janet McCall, who designed it. They were not available for photo.
MCDOWELL NEWS ARCHIVES
Thirty-one years ago, this gas truck overturned on U.S. 221 North in the Woodlawn area when McDowell County got its second round of snow for the week of Jan. 21, 1987. No gas leaked from the truck, no one was injured and no other details were available at the time. The wreck apparently occurred due to the slick and snowy roads.
Snow and ice blanketed McDowell County in 1982. Photographer Jock Lauterer captured many images of folks out enjoying, or braving, the wintry conditions. In this picture, Mary James, of Marion, solved her problem of getting around town by taking to her cross-country skiis.
Related to this collection
“It's trending more toward ice and sleet.”
