Page "Watauga County, North Carolina" Paragraph 27

As a result of its relatively high elevation, Watauga County enjoys considerably cooler summers than most of the rest of the southeastern United States.

Likewise, winters are longer, harsher, and often much colder, with frequent sleet and snowfall, and blizzard-like conditions are not uncommon, especially at the higher elevations.

Boone, NC Historical Climate Summary