Forecast Last Updated at Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 6:25PM

Going to Sting a Bit

What a roller coaster we have been on this week. We went from January (30s Monday) to June (70s Wednesday) in 48 hours. We went back to early March today as a front moved through early this morning with colder air in tow. Tonight is clear and rather cold. Seasonally cool but dry weather holds through the weekend. Monday through Wednesday will be chilly and wet. But we dry out in time for Merlefest--beginning one week from today. Hurrah!

Voting is underway in the 2019 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar Photo Contest. We received over 700 entries in the contest (the most ever). Many thanks to all the photographers for the great response. Voting will continue until May 1, 2018.

Thursday Hi: 42 Lo: 26 Clear; Rather cold; NW wind 10-20 mph & gusty

Friday Hi: 45 Lo: 26 Sunny; Seasonably cool; NW wind 5-15 mph, then light Fri. night

Saturday Hi: 49 Lo: 32 Lots of sunshine; Milder; Light SE wind

Sunday Hi: 49 Lo: 36 Partly to mostly cloudy; Temperatures slightly cooler than average

Monday Hi: 40 Lo: 36 Cloudy & Cooler; Fog; Rainy

Further Out

Tuesday - Cloudy & Cool; Fog; Rainy; High near 40 degrees; Low in the upper 30s
Wednesday - Generally cloudy; Lingering showers during the daytime; A bit warmer; High in the lower 50s; Low in the upper 30s

Forecast Discussion

High pressure slides across the Great Lakes and Eastern U. S. through Sunday. We'll have generally clear skies tonight through Saturday, but clouds increase Sunday. Temperatures will be milder Saturday and Sunday but still below seasonal averages.

Low pressure moves across the Southwest U. S. late this week and reaches the Southeast Monday. It will make a painfully slow crawl from Louisiana to the Carolina Coast Monday through Wednesday. Meanwhile, a chilly wedge will form across the Southern Appalachians. We'll have clouds, fog, mostly light rain, and chilly temperatures Monday and Tuesday. Showers may linger into Wednesday, but temperatures will be less chilly.

And now for the best news of all... The rain clears out by next Thursday for Merlefest. Expect dry weather for most if not all of the festival weekend. Temperatures will be cooler than average Thursday but somewhat warmer by Saturday and Sunday.

Sugar Mountain Resort Activities

The ski slopes, ice skating and tubing are closed for the winter season. To those of you who visited Sugar Mountain Resort throughout the past five months, Thank You.

Our summer fun begins in May. Check skisugar.com for a complete schedule and details.

In the mean-time Sugar Mountain Resort’s decades old gravity and cross-country mountain biking and hiking trail system ‘s much-anticipated expansion is underway.

Enlarging, widening, and upgrading the current mountain bike park, building out expert terrain to offer beginner and intermediate line option choices from the summit to the base, adding features like rollers, small dips, and table tops are just a few of the compliments slated for the summer season.

Summit Express lift service for foot passengers and mountain bikers begins June 30 and the second annual Summit Crawl will be held on June 30 too.

Don’t forget, in early June, be sure to view Sugar's website to learn more about next winter’s season pass internet special.

See you this summer.

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort gift cards make a great present for any occasion.

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