Boone Daily: Wind, Snow, Arts, and an App State Win

Good morning, Boone. With winter weather still whipping across the High Country, the weekend is packed with arts, live talent, and hometown basketball wins.

High winds, bitter cold, and fresh snow

Overnight gusts near 60 miles per hour and single‑digit wind chills pounded Boone and neighboring valleys, pushing a high wind warning and cold weather advisory into Saturday evening. Light new snowfall and blowing snow have kept some secondary roads slick, especially on ridge tops and shaded spots.

Residents are being urged to watch for downed limbs and scattered outages and to bundle up if they have to be out early today. In nearby Valle Crucis, fresh snow at sunrise showed just how quickly a couple of inches can drift when the wind picks up across open fields and hollows.

Art openings brighten a cold First Friday

Despite the chill, downtown’s art scene leaned into celebration Friday night as the university’s visual arts center kicked off its spring exhibitions with a special First Friday event. Extended gallery hours, artist talks, and hands‑on activities drew visitors in from the cold and gave locals a first look at new photography and contemporary art shows that will run into the spring.

If you skipped the festivities to stay home and stay warm, the galleries remain open with free admission in the weeks ahead, offering an easy daytime outing once roads and sidewalks fully recover from the recent storms.

Boone’s Got Talent hits the Appalachian Theatre stage

Tonight, the spotlight shifts to King Street as Boone’s winter talent showcase takes over the Appalachian Theatre. The evening features local singers, musicians, and performers competing in a family‑friendly program that helps carry some of Boonerang’s creative energy into the colder months.

Doors open early for reserved seating and a steady crowd is expected, so plan a little extra time for parking and walking in case sidewalks remain icy. For many residents, the show has quickly become a mid‑winter tradition and a chance to cheer on friends and neighbors under the stage lights.

App State men notch sixth straight win at home

On the court, Appalachian State men’s basketball kept rolling Saturday afternoon with a 65–60 home win over Eastern Michigan at the Holmes Convocation Center. Guard Alonzo Dodd led the way with 23 points, backed by double‑figure scoring and strong rebounding from his teammates as the Mountaineers pushed their record to 17–9 overall and 9–4 in league play.

The tight game gave fans inside the arena a welcome break from the wind and cold, and it sets up a confident stretch run as conference play continues in Boone later this month.

Sources

• https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/nc/boone/28607
• https://kyma.com/weather/2026/02/07/caught-on-camera-morning-light-hits-snow-covered-valley-in-north-carolina/
• https://tcva.appstate.edu/venue/all-galleries/
• https://tcva.appstate.edu/
• https://downtownboonenc.com/events/
• https://emueagles.com/news/2026/2/7/mens-basketball-habhab-leads-eastern-in-tight-65-60-mac-sbc-challenge-loss-at-appalachian-state