Last Updated on January 15, 2026 3:30 pm In the latest drought update for North Carolina, most of the High Country remains in Moderate drought. In the High Country, all of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery are in Moderate drought status. The weekly update, put out by the North Carolina Drought Management Council, shows 59 counties …

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Last Updated on January 15, 2026 11:31 am BLOWING ROCK – A traffic stop by Blowing Rock Police in November has resulted in a prison sentence for a man charged with felony habitual larceny and fentanyl possession. On November 8, 2025, Blowing Rock Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Food …

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Last Updated on January 15, 2026 9:10 am WATAUGA COUNTY – A chimney fire early Thursday morning in the 6100 block of Howard's Creek Road was extinguished with no damage to the structure, according to the Watauga County Fire Marshal's Office. Watauga County Communications received the call at just after 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, January …

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Last Updated on January 14, 2026 1:26 pm NCZ001-018-VAZ015-150200-/O.NEW.KRNK.WI.Y.0002.260115T0200Z-260115T1600Z//O.EXB.KRNK.CW.Y.0001.260115T0500Z-260116T1200Z/Ashe-Watauga-Grayson-Including the cities of Troutdale, Whitetop, Boone, Independence,Volney, and West Jefferson1259 PM EST Wed Jan 14 2026 …WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM ESTTHURSDAY……COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 AM ESTFRIDAY… WHAT…For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds …

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Last Updated on January 14, 2026 11:53 am Watauga County Communications received a call at approximately 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 14th reporting a structure fire in the 100 Block of Miranda Ln in Zionville. Upon arrival, responders found the outside porch area was on fire due to improperly disposed fireplace coal and ash materials. …

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Last Updated on January 13, 2026 9:22 pm AVERY COUNTY – Avery County Emergency Management is closely monitoring the incoming weather system and has placed a warming shelter on standby due to the potential for impacts and power outages. A warming shelter will be opened at the Rock Gym if a major power outage occurs. …

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Last Updated on January 13, 2026 7:31 pm Christopher Davis of Nebo tried his luck on a $10 scratch-off on Monday and won the first $1 million top prize in a new lottery game. Davis bought his lucky MONOPOLY® ticket from Community Grocery & Hardware on Statesville Boulevard in Cleveland. When Davis arrived at lottery …

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Last Updated on January 13, 2026 11:03 am Hazardous Weather OutlookNational Weather Service Blacksburg VA748 AM EST Tue Jan 13 2026 NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009-010-015-WVZ042-043-507-508-141300-Ashe-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Grayson-Mercer-Summers-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-748 AM EST Tue Jan 13 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest North Carolina,southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. .DAY ONE…Today and tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this …

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