In a typical year the ski season in Boone NC typically kicks off around the end of November and runs through the end of March, depending on weather conditions and snow levels. In addition to skiing, Boone’s winter activities also include snowboarding, snowshoeing, snow tubing, and ice skating.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regularly reports increased traffic and congestion around Boone during the ski & holiday season, especially on routes leading to and from the resorts.
Beech Mountain, Appalachian Ski Mountain, and Sugar Mountain all attract a significant number of tourists from late November to early March. This leads to much heavier traffic and a higher likelihood of road incidents, including speeding and other traffic violations.
Storm and Weather Blockages
This year is going to be another story because of the storm damage from Helene.
Key roads such as U.S. 321, which runs through Boone (and other roads leading to popular ski areas like Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain) were among those affected.
Some highways, including stretches of I-40, suffered severe damage, and while recovery efforts are ongoing, it’s expected that road repairs will take months to complete in many areas. The NCDOT reported that more than 390 roads in western North Carolina, including Boone, were closed after Tropical Storm Helene.
This has created lasting traffic concerns as the region heads into the holiday season, with closures and delays still in place in some areas.
Other Areas To Look Out For
Earlier this year in January, a winter storm caused numerous accidents and forced the temporary closure of several key roads in Avery and Watauga counties, including Beech Mountain Parkway.
Other notable areas include U.S. 221 and NC-105, which also experience significant issues during winter storms, such as black ice and snow drifts. In particular, NC-105 has ongoing rock removal and slope repair efforts due to the risk of landslides, adding another layer of difficulty for drivers during the holiday season.
If you are concerned about having a legal resource if you should run into issues on the road, take down our info below. Or, if you’re reading this after getting a ticket in the area, we’re ready to help.
Call us at 336-995-0060 or email at [email protected].
Will McElwee has been a traffic attorney for over 25 years, and has established a solid track record helping folks from Boone and Wilkesboro to Winston Salem address traffic tickets. His family has a long and fruitful history in the area: the McElwee Law Firm began in 1932. Will’s grandfather, William H. McElwee, Jr., was a former president of the North Carolina Bar and sat on North Carolina’s Board of Law Examiners for many years.
As a “Double Deac,” Will attended Wake Forest University for both undergraduate and law school. He is a certified Superior Court and Family Financial Mediator and is also certified in the field of collaborative law.
