Live: Winter storm creeps into Asheville, Western NC with snow, ice

Temperatures are dropping and a winter storm of massive proportions bears down on Western North Carolina on Saturday, Jan 24.

Millions in North Carolina and across the United States are hunkering down for a storm that’s it expected to hit areas with snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice, that could cause mass power outages.

“Take this storm seriously, folks,” the National Weather Service warned in statements on social media. “The cold can be deadly.”

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.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Asheville area will start seeing snow and sleet before noon on Saturday, Jan. 24. The mountains will have a chance of snow until about 5 p.m., before sleet begins to fall once again after 5 p.m. Little to no accumulation is expected as of the 7 a.m. forecast.

For those closer to the North Carolina/Tennessee border, they may see snow a bit earlier.

“Light snow will be possible in the vicinity of Smokies this morning, with a light dusting possible,” read the forecast discussion.

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.

North Carolina winter storm outlook: Ice storm warning in effect for region

The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning on Friday, Jan. 23, that will go from 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, through 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26.

The storm is expected to hit Western North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 24, bringing hazardous conditions in the form of snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice. Days of freezing temperatures following the storm may prolong the hazards, making for a risky Monday, Jan. 26, morning commute in the region.

Power outage concerns grow as ice accumulation predictions grow

“We expect this to be a major winter storm across the entire forecast area with ice being the main precipitation type across most of the region, leading to hazardous travel and power outages that may last for days,” read the forecast discussion from the National Weather Service.

Asheville and North Carolina emergency management crews have been preparing for such possibilities ahead of the storm’s arrival.

Ryan Cole, the assistant director of Buncombe County Emergency Services, said the forecast has shifted “significantly” and is now “more perilous” with the anticipated ice accumulation. The majority of the county is expected to see one-quarter to a half inch of ice, with some areas expected to get upwards of three-quarters of an inch, Cole said. “Isolated pockets” could see a full inch, he said.

While that might sound like small measurements, Cole said anytime over a quarter-inch of ice accumulates, there is a “significant threat” of downed power lines, trees and hazardous roadways.