Ski Report

Cataloochee Ski Area Snow Report

Tennessee, United States Maggie Valley
Today high
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Tonight low
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Snowpack
15in
Past 24 hours
0.0in
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Right now · nearest snotel
15 in snowpack
As of 2026-07-20
SWE
--
Air temp
65°F
Past 24h
0in
Past 72h
0in
Next 24h
--in
Next 5d
--in
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Cataloochee Ski Area -- Tennessee ski resort
Cataloochee Ski Area Tennessee · Maggie Valley
About this resort

Cataloochee Ski Area

Cataloochee Ski Area is a popular ski resort in North Carolina. The resort has 18 trails, 5 lifts, and a vertical drop of 740 feet. The best trails at Cataloochee Ski Area are Upper and Lower Snowbird, Upper and Lower Omigosh, and Rocket. An interesting fact is that the resort is named after the nearby Cataloochee Valley, which was once a thriving community but was later abandoned. For beginner skiers, the best trail is Easy Way, which is a gentle slope perfect for learning and practicing. The best apres ski bar is Tony's Tube World & Arcade, which offers a fun and lively atmosphere with arcade games and great drinks.

Terrain mix: The Cataloochee Ski Area in North Carolina is located in the Great Smoky Mountains, specifically in the Cataloochee Valley. The resort is situated within the Cataloochee Ranch and is surrounded by several mountain ranges and peaks, including:

1. The Great Smoky Mountains: This iconic mountain range is the most prominent feature surrounding the Cataloochee Ski Area. It is part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range and offers stunning views and diverse terrain for skiing and snowboarding.

2. Mount Sterling: Located to the southeast of the ski resort, Mount Sterling is a prominent peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. It offers challenging terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders.

3. Hemphill Bald: Hemphill Bald is a mountain peak located to the north of the ski area. It offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and is a popular spot for backcountry skiing and snowboarding.

4. Cataloochee Peak: This peak is located within the Cataloochee Valley and provides a picturesque backdrop for the ski resort. It offers a variety of terrain for all skill levels.

Overall, the Cataloochee Ski Area is surrounded by stunning mountain ranges and peaks that provide a unique and scenic backdrop for skiing and snowboarding.

StateTennessee
LocationMaggie Valley
Detailed forecast

Plan your day down to the hour

Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no. Watch the snow column the morning of a storm to know when to call in sick.

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

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Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
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Long-term outlook

15-day temperature & snow

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks -- start of next storm cycle, end of last one.

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Forecast discussion

What forecasters are seeing

Plain-English forecast narrative from the local NWS office. Issued by NWS MRX.

728 FXUS64 KMRX 200549 AFDMRX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Morristown TN 149 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 123 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026 - Isolated to scattered showers and storms to continue this afternoon and evening. A few strong to marginally severe storms are possible and could produce gusty winds and localized flooding. - Possible strong cold frontal passage tomorrow evening into Wednesday bears watching for severe weather potential. - Below normal temperatures and drier air will follow beyond Wednesday. Precipitation returns next weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 123 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026 The large scale pattern can be classified by ridging generally centered over the Four Corners region and Intermountain West the next couple of days, followed by weak NWly flow over us with troughing to the north and subsequent shortwaves cycling through. A Tropical Depression by the Florida Peninsula will become almost stationary until it gets picked up and eventually drifts westward. A stout shortwave expected to dive SE across the northern Great Lakes before curving up around the U.S. border late tomorrow into Wednesday, will bring our next frontal system across the area. Following that, we`ll still be situated east of upper ridge into the latter part of the week and into the weekend. Diurnal thunderstorm activity continues today much like the past couple of days, except the mountainous terrain will likely see the best chance during the afternoon and evening. The west to east boundary that was draped near the TN and VA border yesterday, will be situated a bit further north today. A few strong strong to severe storms are possible due to moderate cape, but shear will continue to be weak. The main threat with any stronger storm will be localized gusty winds. Heavy rain is also expected as PWATS are around 2 inches and this may lead to isolated flooding for some. Any area that sees repeat heavy showers through this evening will be most at risk for flooding. Again, gusty wind threat and flood threat will be isolated. The stronger storm and flooding threat will likely be for areas east of I-75. Attention turns to tomorrow into Wednesday with a potential strong cold frontal passage. SPC introduced a slight risk for severe weather for the northern part of the CWA as of this discussion. The main threats are damaging winds and heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding. Secondary threats that cannot be ruled out are a couple of tornados and possible small hail. The tornado threat will ultimately depend on whether storms remain surface-based during the overnight hours or become elevated. Timing will definitely play a role as to when the main line arrives and what it means for our area, so there`s still some uncertainty. One factor that models have consistently shown the past couple of nights is increased shear. Following the mid-week cold front, Thursday will be very nice with low to mid 80s highs and dew points in the 60s under high pressure. Temperatures rise a couple of degrees into the weekend, but for the most part remain below normal. A shortwave cycling the top of the upper ridge Friday into Saturday, may bring precipitation chances back to the area and unfortunately increased dew points yet again. A possible boundary that could get hung up to our south may complicate things. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 123 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026 Patchy fog early this morning, with most likely impact at KTRI which is already at dewpoint. All VFR skies by or shortly after 12z. Scattered TS again today, though low confidence at terminals, with much of the initial SHRA or TS anchored over the higher terrain features across the region, though some encroachment later into the valley is still possible. Light winds generally less than 10 knots. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Chattanooga Airport, TN 92 75 93 76 / 40 10 30 30 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 90 74 90 75 / 20 10 30 60 Oak Ridge, TN 90 73 90 74 / 20 20 40 70 Tri Cities Airport, TN 88 69 88 70 / 20 50 70 90 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION...KS AVIATION...Wellington
Regional snowpack

Nearby SNOTEL stations

USDA NRCS SNOTEL stations within driving range. Cross-check whether the snow at Cataloochee Ski Area is a one-off accumulation or a regional storm cycle.

StationSnowpackView
New Found Gap 17 in

Mountain & avalanche safety

Know before you go
Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any off-piste / side-country / backcountry travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
Carry the gear, know how to use it
Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
Mind the weather window
Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry, even if the resort itself is open.
Respect closed terrain
Ropes are there for a reason. Even in-bounds, ducking a closure can trigger a slide that catches you and others below.

Track Cataloochee Ski Area in the Snoflo app

Save this resort as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Cataloochee Ski Area reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.

FAQ

About Cataloochee Ski Area

Where does the snow data for Cataloochee Ski Area come from?

Snowpack, SWE, 24-hour snowfall, and air temperature come from the nearest USDA NRCS SNOTEL station. Forecast comes from the National Weather Service / yr.no feed that Snoflo's iOS app uses.

How often is the snow report updated?

Snowpack and SNOTEL data are updated continuously by NRCS (typically hourly). The 15-day weather forecast is refreshed throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- look for the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero.

What's the elevation at Cataloochee Ski Area?

See the Resort Metrics panel above for base / summit / vertical drop. The summit elevation drives snowpack accumulation -- higher summits hold snow longer through spring.

How is "% of normal" calculated?

Today's snowpack is compared to the average snowpack on this calendar day across every recorded year at the nearest SNOTEL. 100% means right on average; 130% is a big year; 60% is thin.

What ski resorts are near Cataloochee Ski Area?

See the Other Ski Areas pill grid at the bottom of the page for resorts within driving distance. The sister Other Ski Areas card in the Plan-a-longer-trip grid above shows the closest few.

Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?

Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this resort, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment the SNOTEL crosses.

More ski areas

Other resorts near here

Snoflo-tracked ski areas within driving distance of Cataloochee Ski Area.