NCDOT runs full crews overnight amid snow, plowing and treating high elevations

MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — In western North Carolina and in higher elevations like Madison County, temperatures have dropped into the 20s.

Jordan Denny, who works at a gas station in Wolf Laurel, says they were ready.

“Fortunately, we got propane in, I want to say yesterday, so that’s all stocked up. Haven’t had a huge surge in people buying propane, but a little bit more kerosene being sold, a little extra tobacco and things like that. Nothing too crazy, just trying to be here for people,” said Denny.

SNOW RETURNS TO WESTERN NC, ICY ROADS POSSIBLE TONIGHT INTO ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Denny said the region was teased with all the warm weather we’ve had recently.

The gas station he works at is connected to a restaurant where the co-owner says they’re expecting more business because of the snow.

“We are the only restaurant open after 4 o’clock off of this exit. It is the last exit before Tennessee and a lot of the state workers come in. My husband works for Wolf Laurel Road Crew, and they have to push snow and stuff also, so we try to stay open and provide food for them,” said Ashley Rice, the manager and co-owner at Borudys.

WEATHER WARN DAY: STORMS MOVE OUT AS COLD AIR, WINTRY WEATHER MOVES IN

North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson David Uchiyama said in Madison, Buncombe, and Mitchell counties, all available crews will work through the storm to clear the snow and ice.

“NCDOT crews in the high elevations will be working tonight. It’ll be full crews. The individuals will be out in their trucks. They will be clearing snow and ice where it accumulates and applying the salt or the sand or both,” said Uchiyama.

News 13 asked Uchiyama about preparation efforts. He said crews spent the day putting plows and spreaders on their vehicles and because of the precipitation last night and this morning, it would have been ineffective to apply pre-treatment.