ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Bitter cold and dangerous wind chills gripped Western North Carolina overnight, with temperatures plunging below zero in the highest elevations.

According to the National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg, Mount Mitchell — the highest peak east of the Mississippi River — was reporting a temperature of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit as of 8:45 p.m. Sunday. Wind chill values there dropped as low as minus 23 degrees earlier in the evening.

Cold weather and wind advisories were in effect across the region Sunday night, as forecasters warned of strong winds and frigid conditions. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph were expected across higher elevations of the North Carolina mountains, pushing wind chill values to between 5 and 15 degrees below zero in some areas.

The extreme conditions prompted several school districts across the mountains to delay the start of classes Monday morning as a precaution for students and staff.

Those include:

Avery County Schools: Two-hour delay, limited bus routes
Madison County Schools: Two-hour delay
Mitchell County Schools: One-hour delay
Yancey County Schools: Two-hour delay