The Night The Lights Went Out In Clyde North Carolina

Dec. 24, 2009 - PRLog -- Snowstorm Causes Power Outage and Sets the Night Sky Over Mountains on Fire

The snow began falling early on the morning of December 18th 2009.  As dawn came up in Clyde, North Carolina, (population 1,321) residents awoke to their morning coffee,  a beautiful snow falling and the National Weather Service had issued  a “Winter Storm Warning” for all of the Western North Carolina Mountain areas. The snow was predicted to become heavier as the day went on.
Due to past predictions of winter storms that never happened; citizens took the snow fall in stride and began their day with business as usual.
Initially (December 17th), National Weather Service reports indicated” the Western North Carolina Mountains would be in an area where weather conditions would have to come together in a specific order for major snowfall to occur”.
“Depending on the timing of when the system hits the mountains.... will determine how much precipitation we will see…” predicted WLOS 13 meteorologist Julie Wunder on December 17th 2009.
As the snow continued to fall into the morning, major roads (particularly NC Highway 19/23 in Haywood County from Clyde south toward Jackson County) were closed.  North Carolina State Troopers and Clyde Police Department Deputies turned travelers around and encouraged them to seek shelter at the closest possible location.
By mid-morning many employees who had braved the already deteriorating morning weather and went into work; were being sent home, especially if they lived in Haywood County. Businesses began to close in Haywood County at that time as well.
By lunchtime it was apparent the snow was not going to let up and residents began preparations for emergency conditions.  At approximately 1:00 pm power outages began to occur in the town of Clyde, North Carolina due to the weight of the rapidly accumulating snow.  At one point snow falling at the rate of 1-2 inches per hour in some places was reported.
Throughout the afternoon and evening the reports of increasing power outages occurred.  As the snow continued to pile up into the night, attempts to restore power became dangerous and life threatening as built up snow and falling trees (and limbs) caused major electrical transformers to explode.
The town of Clyde, North Carolina experienced power loss in most areas; and complete blackouts (of the entire town) on more than one occasion. Throughout the night the snow relentlessly continued to fall. By Saturday morning some areas measured the snow fall in feet (not inches) of wet December snow. (See picture)
The power surges caused electrical charges to be released into the snow laden night air; lighting up the night sky with flashes of green and blue.  While only lasting for a moment, many  Clyde residents who were up most of the night witnessed them on more than one occasion.
   “When I saw the first one I didn’t know what it was…I didn’t know whether to get on my knees and pray or what,” -Dustin Smith, Clyde, NC Resident .
The flashes of light continued over the town; and were viewed in amazement by a small community on Penland Street situated in and above Clyde.  The electricity problems created an explosion in the downtown Clyde area that appeared to set the night sky on fire (see picture)
The snowstorm of 2009, continued into Saturday. As the snow slowly moved up the East Coast, and leave the mountain areas, it would be days to come before things would be back to normal.
By Monday morning, December 21, 2009, there were still thousands without power and many closings of colleges, schools and businesses. The residents of Haywood County and Clyde, North Carolina began digging out and dealing with the effects of the snow.
As of Wednesday, December 22, 2009 most major roadways were passable during daylight hours and  power had been restored to most people.
One death has thus far been blamed on the storm.



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