Primary Impacts Expected Saturday Afternoon through Sunday
Town Preparations and Impact to Town Services for Monday Included Below
The National Weather Service continues to forecast a significant winter weather event affecting our region, beginning Saturday and lasting into Monday morning. The Town is fully preparing for this event as outlined below. Please pay attention to this message as it includes information on trash and recycling schedules next week, recommended steps for residents, and additional information.
Timing of Event
Please note: the information below reflects the most recent forecast at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 22. Please monitor the National Weather Service or your local news outlets for updates. At this moment, the forecast calls for precipitation to begin late Saturday morning or early afternoon. Initial precipitation may be light snow or a wintry mix. The storm’s primary impact period appears to be Saturday afternoon through Sunday, with freezing rain and a wintry mix are expected to be the dominant precipitation types.
The National Weather Service current forecast shows a likely minimum of 1/3” to 1/2” inch of ice accumulation, and up to 2 inches of snow possible, mainly later in the event.
Precipitation gradually tapers off Sunday night into Monday morning, but cold temperatures may allow icy conditions to persist, especially shaded roads.
Key Points
Ice accumulation — even at moderate levels — can place significant stress on trees and power lines, particularly in heavily wooded areas like ours. This may result in:
- Fallen limbs or trees
- Power outages
- Blocked roadways
- Dangerous driving conditions
Snow amounts are expected to be modest but ice is our primary concern at this time. The Town strongly encourages all residents to stay off the roads during periods of freezing rain and ice, especially Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Do not be on the roads unless it is absolutely necessary. To help support the Town’s emergency response and ensure your safety, we ask that you do the following:
- Keep roadways clear for emergency vehicles, utility crews, and tree-removal operations and do not park vehicles on the road
- Avoid non-essential travel until conditions improve
Town Preparation
Town leadership is monitoring the situation continually along with Buncombe County Emergency Management. Action plans are in place for the weekend and following days, as follows:
- Public Works staff will treat all roads Saturday to ensure maximum effectiveness. Crews will remain on standby and coordinate with BFPD to evaluate road conditions and perform additional work as necessary on Sunday and Monday.
- Trash and recycling collection for the week of Monday, January 26- Wednesday, January 28 will be delayed by one day, and will run from Tuesday-Thursday next week. This will allow additional time for driveways to melt and become passable for our trucks and allow Public Works staff to address road needs on Monday. Please note that trash and recycling services cannot access driveways that are impassable due to ice.
- Town Hall staff will work remotely on Monday, January 26, unless conditions are better than anticipated. Phones and emails will be monitored provided there are no power or communication outages that prevent this.
Resident Preparation
Residents are encouraged to prepare now by:
- Charging phones and essential devices
- Ensuring flashlights, batteries, food, water, and medications are available
- Preparing for the possibility of power outages lasting longer than a typical snow event
- Checking on neighbors who may need assistance
Additional Safety Reminders
- Avoid contact with downed trees or power lines — always assume lines are energized.
- Emergency response and restoration efforts may be slowed during icy conditions.
- Conditions may vary significantly across town due to terrain and tree cover.
Forecast details may continue to change as the event approaches. The Town will update this page as needed and encourages residents to monitor trusted weather sources for the latest information. Thank you.
