Foothills and Blue Ridge Mountains (Lake Lure, Ruth: buy, to live, floor)

[cynwldkat]

What is the wind like in the foothills and Blue Ridge Mountains????

[cynwldkat]

My reason for asking about the wind...we really don't want to live where the wind is "constant". A breeze is great...wind is another story!!

[mm34b]

Actually, I've never noticed a wind problem in the mountains unless you're on top like Grandfather Mountain. Wind speeds there can be 150+ MPH on occasion. However, most of the cities and towns in Western NC are located on sheltered mountain plateaus or valleys, not on the mountains themselves.

Over the past 47 years, I've lived in the mountains, piedmont and coastal plain. As far as constant wind (10-15 MPH), the worst in my personal experience were the flatlands of Southeastern NC. Probably great for sailing, but it did get annoying on a day-to-day basis.

[hapaleeretired]

It sounds like you read one of those stories about the settlers on the plains. The women would go mad listening to the constant winds.
The foothills have an amazing weather pattern. The winds seem to skip up over the mountains and land in the Piedmont.
Now, if you are afraid of lightening. We do have some serious lightening storms.

[mm34b]

January 25. 2006 5:53PM

Grandfather Mountain has record wind of at least 200 mph
The Associated Press

Winds of least 200 mph were recorded early Wednesday on Grandfather Mountain, breaking the previous record of 195.5 mph set almost nine years ago.

The previous record was set April 18, 1997.

The upper limit on Grandfather's anemometer is 200 mph, but the needle on the gauge actually went beyond its limit, Grandfather Mountain officials said in a news release.

The wind blew out three double-strength, steel-wire-reinforced windows at the mountain's visitor center, where it also ripped up floor tiles; blew open a locked door; tore a wooden mantel off a wall; and upended a 300-pound boulder that was cemented into the parking area.

[cynwldkat]

WOW!! But I do understand about Grandfather mountain and it being the top...The reason I questioned the wind, here in CA there are many areas, like high desert and foothills that get constant winds. I guess I had also heard about Grandfather mountain and I suppose that was a factor in my asking this question. But I am happy to hear the wind is not a problem. As far as thunder, lightening storms...not a problem! It makes it smell so clean after all the action it's worth it!!

[cowboy_wilhelm]

There is typically more of a breeze in the mountains than in the foothills, but any strong winds are typically going to end up everywhere. Remember, just because you can see the mountains doesn't mean you have their weather. People move here all the time and complain about how hot and humid it is and can't figure it out. Well, you're not actually in the mountains yet, it's still Piedmont.

Take Lake Lure for example. Many people would call that the mountains, but the elevation on the lake (full pond is defined as 990') is less than Atlanta (the airport is 1,010'). The weather is still considerably different.

Also, if you see anything about the "thermal belts," don't buy into that b.s. Thermal belts affect a very small area on the actual sides of a valley, not a widespread area as people in Polk County seem to claim. Don't get me wrong, they do exist, but unless you're in a valley you're not going to be effected.

[mm34b]

You can see exactly where the foothills are on this map.

Physiographic Regions of NC

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/proj_earth/pdf/color_physiography_600dpi.pdf

Portions of these counties are located in both the Piedmont and the Mountain Regions.

Surry
Wilkes
Caldwell
Burke
McDowell
Rutherford
Polk