Weather on the Tail of the Dragon is fairly predictable most of the summer. The winter months from November through March can be impossible to predict. The chart at the bottom of the page shows averages for each month. BE WARNED that these are averages and the actual temperatures can vary widely, For example we have seen temperatures ranging from the mid-90s in summer to minus 5 degrees in the winter.

There are many ridable 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 Dragon as early as Halloween. The Blizzard of 1993 dropped 38 inches of snow on us in one day, March 13. We have seen snow on the Dragon as late as April 16 one year, when 13 inches fell. Higher elevations of the Cherohala and Blue Ridge Parkway can experience snow well into May.

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 here and there .... not everywhere. They often dissipate in the late afternoon leaving several hours of good riding before dark.

Cars can run the Dragon most of the year. Winter is a great time to have the road to yourself. At times the road is dusted with salt/sand, but that is only when a severe storm is coming. It is usually gone after the next good rain. One big advantage of winter on the Dragon is the ability to see through many the corners because the trees have dropped their leaves. Good visibility from November through March. One downside is the sun is lower and can get in your eyes even at noon. The shadows also make for reduced viability.