Primary Impacts Expected Saturday Afternoon through Monday morning
Town Preparations and Impact to Town Services Beginning Monday Included Below
January 22, 2026 – 4:30pm
The National Weather Service continues to forecast a significant winter weather event affecting our region, beginning Saturday and lasting into Monday morning. The message below includes information on town preparation, trash and recycling schedules next week, Town closures, recommended steps for residents, and more.
Timing of Event
Please note: this information reflects the most recent update from the National Weather Service for Buncombe County at 2:30pm on 1/22/26. Please monitor the National Weather Service or your local news outlets for updates. At this moment, the forecast calls for precipitation to begin Saturday afternoon and last through early Monday morning. At this point, the forecast is calling for minimal snowfall and up to 1/2 inch of ice with additional sleet accumulations.
The storm’s primary impact period appears to be Saturday evening through Sunday.
Precipitation gradually tapers off early Monday morning, but significantly colder temperatures will move into the area and make travel very dangerous. The likelihood of this being a moderate to major ice event is high and may also result in roads being impassable due to downed trees and power lines.
Key Points
Ice accumulation — even at moderate levels — places 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 minimal and 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 Monday. 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 in coordination with Buncombe County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service. 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. The Board of Adjustment meeting for Monday has been cancelled.
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.