WEATHER ON THE FOOTHILLS PARKWAY is fairly predictable most of the summer. The winter months from November through March can be impossible to predict.The chart below indicates averages for each month at similar elevations. BE WARNED that these are averages and the actual temperatures can vary widely.

There can many fair weather days in the winter, but they are not predictable. We have ridden Christmas and New Years, but we considered that lucky. We have seen snow on the Foothills as early as Halloween. The Blizzard of 1993 dropped 4 feet of snow on the higher elevations in one day on March 13.

The Foothills Parkway can be closed when ice and snow is present. The road does not get plowed/slated like other area roads; the Foothills is closed under adverse conditions. The new section from Walland to Wears Valley is the first to close because of the many bridges that tend to freeze before the roadway.

Many summer afternoons bring widely scattered rain showers. Often the weather stations and web weather will indicate rain for the entire area. BE AWARE that you can still have nearly a full day of riding before the summer showers hit in mid-afternoon. And these showers are spotty …. not everywhere. Go 5 miles and you might be in the clear. They often dissipate in the late afternoon leaving several hours of good riding before dark.

Be aware that bad weather such as rain and high winds can bring down trees at any time. Travel with caution under these conditions.