Did you know February is Asheville’s snowiest month? | Photo by @avltoday
We know the question on your mind, Ashevillians — how cold will this winter be? And when’s it going to snow?
Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for December, January, and February. While exact weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what winter will bring.
Reminder: The official first day of winter is on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
🌡️ Temperature
Think warmer than we’re used to. This winter, Asheville has a 40-50% chance of temperatures being higher than normal.
🌨️ Precipitation
Expect about average precipitation. Asheville is predicted to experience ordinary snow and rainfall amounts for the season.
☀️ Drought
Drought conditions are expected to develop this season.
December will (likely) dole out snow
Usually, we see our first snow of the season in December, when temperatures fluctuate between an average low of 33.8° and an average high of 48.4°. Pro tip: December is also when we see the most rainfall, with rain falling an average of 10 days and typically aggregating up to 3.54 inches of precipitation.
January is the coldest month
Bundle up, because January is typically the coldest month in Asheville. The average high and low temps are between 44.1° + 27.7°. There’s also plenty of precipitation, with an average of 10.9 days of rain and 2.5 days of snowfall. So go ahead, dig up those snow boots and sleds now.
February: the frost continues
Historically, the average high temperature in February is 48.9° with an average low of 31.6°. It’s also the month with the highest number of snow days — on average, Asheville sees 4.1 snow days out of its annual 12.1 average.
Don’t like snow? Don’t despair: the average daily sunshine does increase from 5.6 hours in January to 6.9 hours in February. We’re already sighing with relief.
Asheville Choral Society Yuletide Candlelight Performance | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Asheville, 40 Church St., Asheville | $15-$25 | Enjoy beloved classics, emerging composers, and fun surprises at this annual holiday concert.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $23-$32 | Expect the brilliantly unexpected from Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s eleventh annual performance of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.”
Sparkle City Disco | Friday, Dec. 2 | 10 p.m. | Different Wrld, 701 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $15 | Dance the night away with Nashville’s premier vinyl disco DJs.
Saturday, Dec. 3
The Big Crafty | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 12 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville, 87 Haywood St, Asheville | $9 | Celebrate the holidays and the creative spirit of our city while shopping selections from Asheville’s finest artists and makers.
2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave., Asheville | $50-$125 | In celebration of its 21st Anniversary, NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition will welcome eight finalists to Asheville for an evening of songs and connection.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Beyond the Crypt: A Burial & Friends Makers’ Market | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1-4 p.m. | Burial Beer Co., 40 Collier Ave., Asheville | Free | Shop holiday gifts and enjoy some pours from the team at Burial Beer Co.
Casey Driessen’s Sunday Experiment | Sunday, Dec. 4 | 7 p.m. | Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway St., Asheville | Free | Grab a cocktail and listen to tunes from Little Jumbo’s musical resident and “mad scientist with a five-string fiddle.”
Monday, Dec. 5
Turntable Supper with Bryann Sandoval | Monday, Dec. 5 | 6-8 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’ Henry Ave., Asheville | $100 | This month’s Turntable Supper features a playful spin on classic Peruvian dishes from Chef Bryann Sandoval.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Pintxo Party | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | La Bodega by Curate, 32 South Lexington Ave., Asheville | $75 | This first-ever, reception-style event will feature tasty bites from Chef Matt Brown and a selection of De Maison wines — reservations are required.
2nd Annual Wizards of Mixology| Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 7-10 p.m. | Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, 25 Page Ave., Asheville | $45 | Four local restaurants and bars will provide a food and drink pairing for your enjoyment at this themed cocktail and culinary competition.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
We love seeing decorations around every corner. | Photo by AVLtoday
With 60+ premier brands and counting, the Asheville Outlets offer an impressive range of inventory. Editor Laura (that’s me) spent the afternoon catching up on the latest and greatest Asheville Outlets offerings, which included shopping for gifts, admiring holiday decorations, and sampling truffles at Lindt Chocolate Shop.
My favorite part? The discounts (up to 70%) at brand-name stores like West Elm Outlet, Crate & Barrel, J. Crew Factory, and Coach Outlet —plus the instant gratification of securing holiday gifts for loved ones.
There’s a great mix of shops, from Sportman’s Warehouse and Nike Factory Store to Pandora Jewelry and Carter’s Babies and Kids, which makes it easy to find a little something for everyone.
I also really appreciated the on-site gift-wrapping options, so I could knock out all my holiday shopping in one fell swoop — and Auntie Anne’s was a tasty place to refuel at in between stores.
Another highlight: I saw a ton of cute canines (the complex is dog-friendly).
Keep reading to see what we’re still talking about.*
The proposal to restructure the City of Asheville’s 20 advisory boards is now “off the table.” After ten months of discussion, the city is now examining alternative routes to create an advisory board system that is more strategic, effective, and inclusive.(Asheville Citizen-Times)
Eat
New pop-up alert. Asheville chef Luis Martinez is partnering with Chopped winner Nikko Cagalanan for a Filipino-Oaxacan dinneronWednesday, Dec. 7, 6 p.m. at the Asheville Masonic Temple. The menu includes dishes like birria lumpia, pork egg noodles, adobo pozole, and cassava cake. Get tickets. 🍜
Brought together by a love of charcoal, wings, and Atlanta, hip-hop artist T-Pain and Asheville chef Meherwan Irani have teamed up to produce a line of Spicewalla wing rubs. Flavors include the honey garlic “Sugar Daddy,” a pineapple habanero blend named “The Juice,” and the smoky + spicy “Straight Fire.”
Drink
The Asheville School of Wine and MWWine School will launch WSET Level One, Two, and Three Award in Wines classes in Asheville this January. These courses are considered prestigious in the wine industry and are ideal for beginners, connoisseurs, and wine and food industry professionals. 🍷
Cheers to the weekend, Asheville. Celebrate the end of the work week (responsibly) with an at-home happy hour. Need some inspo? Learn how to make the perfectGreen Apple Bourbon cocktail courtesy of The Lobster Trap. 🥃 *
Try This
Little free libraries, but for old VHS tapes. That’s the idea behind Out-Dated Video, a new community offering that allows folks to swap video tapes. The first box is located at the Gas-Up in West Asheville (405 Haywood Rd.) — organizer Joshua Heald plans to add more soon. 📹 (Ashevegas)
Number
3,008,146. That’s how many vacation rentals are in Buncombe County, based on October data from the BCTDA. This is the first year that vacation rental inventory has eclipsed hotel inventory, with Buncombe’s current hotel inventory sitting at 2,726,501 rooms. (WLOS)
Featured
Cashiers, NC ranked No. 72 in My Dating Advisor’s list of coziest small towns in America. The list compared 170 towns across metrics of coziness, like average snowfall in December and cafes per capita. Cashiers received a coziness score of 56 out of 100. 🧣
Giveaway
We’ve teamed up with The Urban Gastronome, Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, and the Restoration Hotel Asheville for a fab giveaway. One lucky person will win two free tickets to the 2nd Annual Wizards of Mixology - Themed Cocktail & Culinary Competition, a one-night stay and dinner for two at the new Restoration Hotel Asheville, and an imbibe box from Cultivated Cocktails Distillery.
Asked
Help us out: We’re looking for local subscription services that would make for a great holiday gift. Anything from snacks and ceramics to fun t-shirts — so long as the company or products are based in the Asheville area. Send us your recs for a chance to be featured.
Do you know of any local businesses that operate on a four-day work week? If so, let us know for the chance to be included in an upcoming article. Please and thank you, Asheville.
Shop
Your holiday music just got better. 1byoneaudio sells high quality and easy-to-use turntables equipped with incredible sound quality and hi-fi speakers, plus some that connect to Bluetooth headphones. Think: a great gift for the record lover in your life (or even an early present for yourself). 🎶*
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Metallic petanque four balls and a small wood jack | Photo via Pexels
Pétanque began in 1910 in a small town near Marseille, France. Today, it’s played all over the world including here in Asheville. NC’s pétanque network, Carolina Pétanque, has over 100 members statewide.
How to Play
The objective of the game is to be the first player or team to score thirteen points. Similar to bocce ball, points are scored when one or more of your balls, called boules, are closer to the target than your opponent’s. You can shoot for the target or aim to knock your opponent’s boule out of play.
Getting Involved
Local French restaurant Rendezvous hosts sessions every Wednesday at 5 p.m. where you can learn to play. On Fridays, grab a drink at the outside bar and try your hand.
Carolina Petanque hosts tournaments and offers teams. For more information on how to play, you can reach out to them at CarolinaPetanque@yahoo.com. 🇫🇷
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Laura.
Editor’s pick: I stopped by Mikasa Criolla last night at its new S&W Market location. My favorite dishes? The empanadas and the Pig in a Ponchosandwich,hands down. And the chicha morada drink, made with purple Peruvian corn, was also stellar. See the full menu — and if you go, let me know what you think.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Catch up on WNC’s most weird and wacky museums, here.
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