Summit forecast, next 72 hours
- New snow0 in
- Strongest gusts20 mphColumbus Day
- Coldest53°F
| Forecast | Snow | Gusts | Temp °F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus DayMostly Sunny | 0 in | 20 mph | High 64° |
| TonightMostly Clear | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 53° |
| TuesdaySunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 70° |
| Tuesday NightClear | 0 in | 10 mph | Low 56° |
| WednesdaySunny | 0 in | 10 mph | High 73° |
| Wednesday NightMostly Clear | 0 in | 5 mph | Low 58° |
Snow is the forecast new accumulation at the summit grid point. Dots use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
Typical weather by month
Monthly normals from the long-term stations nearest the summit. None sits exactly on the pass, so each column says how far away and how high it is.
| Month | Swannanoa 4,320 ft · 28 mi south of the summit | Burnsville 2,825 ft · 16 mi east of the summit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow (in) | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 41° / 25° | 6.8 | 45° / 27° |
| Feb | 44° / 27° | 5.8 | 49° / 29° |
| Mar | 52° / 33° | 6.3 | 56° / 34° |
| Apr | 62° / 42° | 2.5 | 66° / 42° |
| May | 69° / 50° | 0.7 | 73° / 49° |
| Jun | 73° / 57° | 0 | 80° / 58° |
| Jul | 76° / 61° | 0 | 83° / 61° |
| Aug | 75° / 60° | 0 | 81° / 60° |
| Sep | 70° / 54° | 0 | 76° / 54° |
| Oct | 61° / 44° | 0.1 | 67° / 42° |
| Nov | 52° / 34° | 1.1 | 57° / 34° |
| Dec | 44° / 28° | 5.2 | 48° / 29° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SWANNANOA 2 SSE (USC00318448, 4,320 ft); BURNSVILLE AG (USC00311248, 2,825 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Cameras, road reports and winter rules
Conditions on the pass change by the hour, so these go straight to the official sources.
- North Carolina · NCDOTDriveNC road conditions
- Tennessee · TDOTSmartWay road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast for the summit and the road report before you leave.
Crossing Sams Gap? See the summit at the hour you’ll be there
Road Travel times the forecast to your drive, so you see conditions at the summit when you will actually reach it, and get alerts about weather ahead on the way.
Questions about Sams Gap
How high is Sams Gap?
The summit is 3,760 ft above sea level, on I-26.
How far is Sams Gap from Mars Hill and Erwin?
By road, the summit is 12 miles from Mars Hill, NC and 18 miles from Erwin, TN.