Ice and snow to shut down travel into Monday
In today’s Forecast Feed, Bernie Rayno takes a look at a weekend winter storm set to impact much of the United States.
Millions across the United States and in North Carolina are being battered by a massive winter storm that has encased many in ice and snow.
And while Saturday, Jan. 24, had some flurries and sleet during the day, the brunt of the storm hit communities in Western North Carolina later in the evening and into the early morning hours of Sunday. Jan. 25. The ever-changing nature of the storm has many anticipating mass power outages as in the mountains and into the Foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina.
And if the winter precipitation wasn’t enough, extreme cold is nipping at the heels of this storm.
“Take this storm seriously, folks,” the National Weather Service warned in statements on social media. “The cold can be deadly.”
Dozens of groups, businesses and even schools have announced closures for Jan. 25 and into Monday, Jan. 26, due to the weather.
The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for Asheville and Western North Carolina starting today, Saturday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. through Monday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m. Latest predictions have the storm will bring inches of snow, sleet and rain to Asheville and communities across the North Carolina mountains.
You can keep up to date with what is happening in the Asheville area and Western North Carolina below.
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Where is the storm now? North Carolin weather radar
The massive storm continues to move northeast, bringing predicted inches of snow to the Mid-Atlantic region, while continuing to dump a mix of wintry precipitation in the Carolinas.
Take a look at the radar below to see how the storm is moving on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Two day forecast: Monday, Jan. 26, forecast promises even colder weather
As we head into Sunday, Jan. 25, there is a 100% chance of precipitation in the Asheville area and a majority of Western North Carolina communities.
And it’s not going to be the fluffy white stuff.
Here’s the National Weather Service’s forecast for the next two days as of 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Sunday, Jan. 24: Freezing rain before 1 p.m., then rain. Patchy fog. High near 41. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of a tenth to a third of an inch possible.
Sunday night, Jan. 24: Rain likely, mainly before 9 p.m. Patchy fog before midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest 12 to 17 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
Monday, Jan. 26: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as zero. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Monday night, Jan. 26: Mostly clear, with a low around 3. Blustery, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.
Trump approves Emergency Declaration for North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 24
President Donald Trump approved Gov. Josh Stein’s request for an Emergency Declaration ahead of the winter storm, Stein said in a Jan. 24 news conference. Stein sent the request the night of Jan. 23 and received confirmation the morning of Jan. 24, according to his office.
The Emergency Declaration will enable the state to access federal assets to deploy additional generators to critical facilities like hospitals; support sheltering operations; provide emergency food, water, and fuel; and receive support from the U.S. Forest Service to remove downed trees, the Governor’s Office said in a Jan. 24 news release.
Once the weekend’s winter storm arrives, “significant and widespread power outages” are expected across the state, the release said.
According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data, approximately 99,000 of the state’s 2.2 million Medicare recipients are considered medically at risk and dependent on electricity for life-sustaining equipment.
“These power outages, coupled with impassable roads and impaired emergency communications, are likely to result in heightened exposure to cold, increased traffic-related incidents, and delayed or inaccessible emergency medical services,” the release said.
-Ryley Ober
Storm closings happening in Western NC
Closures are already occurring ahead of the brunt of this winter storm.
Buncombe County has preemptively closed all administrative offices, parks, libraries, and the landfill and transfer station for Monday, Jan. 26.
Find out about other closures below.
North Carolina under a state of emergency
The western edge of the Tar Heel State is getting its first taste of a storm that is expected to engulf much of the state in snow and ice over the weekend, Jan. 24-25. The dire forecast prompted North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein to issue a state of emergency days ahead of the storm’s arrival.
