Below zero in NC mountains, shivering continues

BLOWING ROCK, NC (WBTV) -

Bright sunshine did little to change the feel of winter across the mountains and foothills on Thursday.

"At 8:30 this morning is was minus three degrees," said Billie Rogers of the local Chamber of Commerce in Blowing Rock. "It's lovely," she said as she walked down the sidewalk, all bundled up.

Cold temperatures like this are expected from time to time in the mountains, and are even welcome with the Martin Luther King holiday coming up in just over a week.

Area ski resorts are using the cold temperatures to make as much snow as they can to be ready for the expected crowds.

Off the mountain, temperatures were in the single digits overnight. In Morganton, Brian Searcy at CBS Sports, a clothing and sports equipment store, turned a snow gun on on the front lawn of his business.

"We think we can make snow for the next 48 hours," he said Thursday morning. The store will be having a big sale on winter merchandise this weekend, and hopes to have enough snow for customers to try out some snowboards, and as an area for kids to play.

"This is just perfect weather for it," he said.

With another night of extreme cold, authorities are urging any travelers to be extra careful and be sure to have supplies with them in case they are stuck. They are also urged to have a fully-charged, working cell phone.

Rogers says the weather in Blowing Rock could always be worse. "In Minnesota it was minus 57 last night."

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Below zero in NC mountains, shivering continues