Blue Ridge Parkway, Buncombe county river parks still closed; more rain incoming

Ryley Ober, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·2 min read
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ASHEVILLE — All Buncombe County River Parks are closed for continued flooding and will remain closed through the weekend while more rain is in the forecast, according to a social media announcement from the county.

Another low-pressure system is expected to sweep through Western North Carolina overnight Jan. 11, bringing rain throughout the day Jan. 12, according to meteorologist Scott Krentz with the National Weather Service

Carrier Park is seen completely flooded after heavy rain on Jan. 9.
Carrier Park is seen completely flooded after heavy rain on Jan. 9.

“It’s going to rain pretty much through the whole day, kind of light in the morning and heavier in the afternoon,” Krentz said, adding that Asheville is forecast to see a half inch to three quarters of an inch.

Higher elevations could see light snowfall Friday night, as a mild cold front will push through behind the rain, Krentz said.

The rain will likely be done by Saturday morning with temperatures hitting a little below normal, according to Krentz. Asheville should see temperatures in the upper 40s Jan. 12. Once the cold front rolls through around midnight Friday, low temperatures will drop to the upper 20s overnight.

“Saturday (Jan. 13), you have a colder air mass mix, with high temperatures struggling into the 30s most of the day, maybe topping out at about 40 or so,” Krentz said.

Flash flooding, closures on Jan. 9: Jan. 9 weather roundup: state of emergency; high rain, winds, flooding. What to know

Recent flooding in Asheville: Scenes of flooding around Asheville Jan. 9 during severe weather

From the last weather system that rolled through WNC Jan. 9, bringing heavy rain and spurring a flash flood watch for Buncombe County, Asheville received 3.5 inches of rain, Krentz said.

“Some of the higher peaks, like the Black Mountains and Balsam Mountains in Maggie Valley, got closer to 4 or 5 inches,” Krentz said. “Hendersonville was a hot spot; they got about 5.5 inches.”

The map depicts rainfall totals Jan. 9 for Western North Carolina and surrounding areas.
The map depicts rainfall totals Jan. 9 for Western North Carolina and surrounding areas.

Parkway weather closure: Entire Blue Ridge Parkway in WNC, major roads in Smokies closed due to severe weather

The Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina remains closed, including the portions in Asheville, for ice and snow.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park had a few temporary closures due to downed trees from the large weather system Jan. 9. Some of the roads have reopened but the following remain closed as of Jan. 11:

  • Newfound Gap Road, the highway connecting Cherokee to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

  • Cherokee Orchard

  • Lakeview Drive

  • Tremont Road

  • Greenbrier Road

Previously closed Asheville City parks and roads are all reopened, according to spokesperson Kim Miller.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Blue Ridge Parkway Buncombe County river parks remain closed