ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — (8:58)
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has released an update on winter storm totals.
According to a social media post, from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m., there have been 750 collisions, 817 calls for service, and no weather-related fatal collisions.
Buncombe County Schools has also announced that Monday, Feb. 2, will operate on a remote learning or optional teacher workday.
According to a release from Buncombe County Schools, teachers will post assignments in learning management systems at 10 a.m. on Monday or may have sent packets home with students.
Students will have up to five school days to complete assignments, and once they do, they will be counted as present for the day.
The release says lunch will be available to eat in the cafeteria from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:
- AC Reynolds Middle School
- Black Mountain Primary
- Emma Elementary
- Estes Elementary
- Leicester Elementary
- North Windy Ridge Intermediate
- Candler Elementary
Students can eat free of charge, and parents can purchase a meal for $5.25.
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(6:53) Pardee Hospital and the Emergency Department want to remind the community that they remain open.
According to a news release, due to winter weather and hazardous road conditions through the region, all Pardee Urgent Care practices, including Hendersonville, Mills River, and Pisgah Forest, will operate on a modified schedule on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Urgent Care practices will be open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For additional updates, visit here.
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(5:27 p.m.) Henderson County has provided an update on snow totals and road conditions.
According to Mike Morgan, the Henderson County Communications Officer, there are reports of four to six inches of snow in the county.
Morgan says residents are encouraged to stay off the roads to allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation and emergency services to clear roads.
Many roads in the county are covered in snow, and travel is not advised.
Residents are also asked to stay inside if they can due to wind gusts and an extreme cold warning.
As of 4 p.m., Morgan says there have been no reported power outages in the county.
Madison County has also provided an update on weather conditions, saying county government leadership and the Emergency Management Team are collaborating with NCDOT to monitor road conditions.
According to Madison County, NCDOT reports it has enough salt to get through at least one more storm, possibly two, and is focusing on primary state roads to ensure adequate supplies.
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(4:15) The North Carolina National Guard mobilized resources across the region to assist Emergency Management crews ahead of the winter storm.
According to a news release, NCNG has activated around 341 personnel and employed 127 vehicles in response to the storm.
The NCNG is currently moving personnel and equipment to areas forecasted to be the most impacted by the storm.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has provided an update on statewide winter storm totals.
According to a social media post, throughout the timeline of 12 a.m. to 12 p.m., there have been 340 collisions, 360 calls for service, and no weather-related fatal collisions.
The Biltmore Estate announced in a social media post that due to weather it will have a delayed opening on Sunday, Feb. 1.
The main admissions entrance will open at 11 a.m.
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(3:33 p.m.) DoorDash has announced that it is temporarily suspending operations in Asheville, along with surrounding areas, in response to the winter storm.
According to a news release, DoorDash has activated its severe weather protocol, temporarily suspending operations until Sunday, Feb. 1, depending on conditions.
“Due to hazardous conditions, including snow and ice brought by this winter storm, we’ve activated our Severe Weather Protocol and temporarily suspended operations in Asheville,” said DoorDash spokesperson Jenn Rosenberg, in a news release. “We encourage everyone in affected areas to follow local guidance and take necessary precautions, and we will resume operations as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
DoorDash says it will be closely monitoring conditions and communicating any changes with dashers, merchants, and customers.
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(10 a.m.) Buncombe County said all parks and libraries are closed Saturday due to weather, along with the landfill and transfer station. County parks will remain closed Sunday, Feb. 1.
FCC Environmental, the company contracted to handle the county’s trash pickups, was previously operating on a delayed schedule due to last weekend’s storm, with Friday collections moved to Saturday. The county said pickups rescheduled for Saturday have now been moved to Monday. Monday collections will shift to Tuesday, and so forth.
County officials said any impacts to Monday operations will be communicated as soon as possible.
Mountain Mobility is currently operating on a delay and will open at noon.
Find important phone numbers and more information at buncombeready.org.
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(5:30 a.m.) Snow started falling in the Asheville area overnight, with another round of precipitation expected through Saturday morning.
As of 5 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, DriveNC.gov reports that primary roads in Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Mitchell counties are covered in snow.
Snow is expected to fall heavily at times Saturday, and winds will begin to pick up.
WINTER STORM TO BRING ACCUMULATING SNOW, BITTER COLD TO WNC
News 13 meteorologists forecast that accumulations will be highest near the North Carolina–Tennessee state line, where up to a foot of snow is expected. Most of western North Carolina could see between 4 and 8 inches of snow.
CARS LEFT ON I-26 IN WINTER STORM WILL BE TOWED IMMEDIATELY, NCDOT SAYS
Temperatures will plummet into the teens by Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for much of the region from 1 p.m. Saturday through 1 p.m. Sunday due to dangerous wind chill readings, which could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.