Winter storm passes through: Live snow updates in Asheville area, Jan. 3
Good morning. The first snowstorm of the season in Asheville is forecast for Monday morning, Jan. 3, and we'll keep you updated on conditions around the Asheville. I'm Todd Runkle, and if you'd like to share your observations of conditions where you are, send me an email at trunkle@citizentimes.com. Include your name and where you are. Send a photo if you'd like, and we'll include it.
10:45 a.m.: Winding down
Barry and Susan Robinson say the storm passed through Black Mountain without leaving more than a stray flake here and there, and that the roads are drying.
And across Western North Carolina, it appears as if the snowstorm has moved east, with just a few locations across the region still receiving a smattering of snow.
Duke Energy reports on its website that it has restored power to most Buncombe County customers, though there are still 3,445 customers without power in Henderson County and reports of other power outages in WNC.
But at this point, I'll be winding down these updates and heading out to grab some breakfast. We'll have a roundup of storm coverage coming later today, so keep an eye out at citizentimes.com for more.
10:40 a.m.: Snow day in Reynolds
Rebekkah Hilgraves says she is happy to be able to stay home today and avoid any hazardous conditions.
10:30 a.m.: View from above
Here's a live look at Asheville from a webcam on top of the Buncombe County Courthouse.
10:20 a.m.: The beauty of snow
Margaret Crum sums up the feeling many people have about snow in the mountains.
“I’m in north Asheville near Beaver Lake. I love the snow and never grow tired of it. I always find beauty in the way the snow accumulates on different surfaces.”
9:40 a.m.: Buncombe outages double
On its power outage summary, Duke Energy reports that there are 12,289 customers without power in Buncombe County. That's more than double the number of outages cited an hour earlier. The website says repairs and damage assessment are underway.
Over the last hour, power outages have climbed significantly in two other Western North Carolina counties. Duke Energy reports there are 2,834 customers without power in Henderson County and 1,385 in Graham County. Duke does not cite an estimated time of power restoration for those counties.
9:30 a.m.: North Asheville scene
Phil Avery submitted this photo of a beautiful snow-covered landscape near Webb Cove Road in North Asheville. It's cool to see that there was enough snow to stick this morning.
8:50 a.m.: Weather report
Reporter Shelby Harris talked to a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Here are the details:
Asheville should continue to see flurries through the morning, but no more snow is expected to stick, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Robbie Munroe.
Overnight, Asheville got 2-4 inches of snow while Western North Carolina’s higher region received as much as 10 inches in some areas.
Even so, Munroe said this snowfall isn’t unusual.
“It's not out of the ordinary,” he said. “The areas that typically would see more snow average quite a bit more snow.”
The snow that has fallen is expected to stick as temperatures remain low. The weather service reports a low of 19 and a high of 36 for Jan. 3.
Continued cold weather presents the opportunity for inclement driving conditions, so Munroe advised caution.
“Any roads that remain wet, especially by this evening, will refreeze and create black ice across the region, which is another hazard to look at later on,” he said.
8:45 a.m.: Power outage update
Not long after most Buncombe County Duke Energy customers who had lost power early this morning had their power restored, Duke Energy reported more power outages. As of 8:45, there were 5,220 customers without power in the county, according to Duke Energy's outage summary. It says repair and damage assessment are underway.
Elsewhere in the region:
Cherokee County: 34 customers without power; 11 a.m. estimated time of restoration.
Graham: 581; 2:30 p.m.
Haywood: 265; 5 p.m.
Henderson: 3,017; 2:45 p.m.
Jackson: 258; 2:15 p.m.
Macon: 888; 2:45 p.m.
Madison: 57; repair and damage assessment underway.
McDowell: 642; 5:30 p.m.
Polk: 163; 2:30 p.m.
Swain: 537; 7:45 p.m.
Transylvania: 128; 2:15 p.m.
8:35 a.m.: Update from Marshall
Main Street in Marshall is quiet this morning after more than 3 inches of snow has fallen so far, says News-Record & Sentinel reporter Johnny Casey.
8:25 a.m.: Beautiful scene in Waynesville
Debra Marthinsen captured this beautiful scene of snow-covered landscape in Waynesville. Wow, I dig it.
8:20 a.m.: City update and Code Purple
From reporter Sarah Honosky:
The city of Asheville offices and Asheville Rides Transit bus service are operating on a delayed schedule today, with both beginning at 10 a.m., according to a Jan. 3 news release.
According to the city release, Asheville Public Works is salting roads and removing accumulated snow beginning with priority one streets -- including major routes needed for emergency response and bus routes. Then crews will move to neighborhood streets as priority routes are cleared.
Code Purple was extended through Jan. 5.
ABCCM Costello House located at 141 Hillside St. is open for men from 4 p.m. throughout the night. The Salvation Army is open for women and children, with entry from at 6-7 p.m.
8:15 a.m.: Snow in Weaverville
Pam Baker send us this view of snow in Weaverville. Things are looking pretty out there! Thanks, Pam.
8:10 a.m.: Scene at Blitmore Forest
Steve Haynes shows us what it's like in Biltmore Forest this morning.
8 a.m.: Power lines down in West Asheville
A power line is down on Westwood Place, leaving about 210 customers without power, according to the Duke Energy outage map, reporter Sarah Honosky says.
The outage was first reported at 4 a.m. Downed lines and trees are completely blocking Westwood Place in the area near the Haywood Road intersection.
7:45 a.m.: Snow sticking on roads in Marshall
News-Record & Sentinel reporter Johnny Casey says snow is sticking to River Road in Marshall.
7:35 a.m.: Windy in West Asheville
Citizen Times investigations editor Karen Chávez says the wind in west Asheville is so strong that it blew over a garbage can. There is no snow accumulation on the streets, however.
7:25 a.m.: Treacherous roads in Haywood County
Aaron Jaynes, of the Mauney Cove community in Waynesville, saw signs of accidents as he was heading out to work this morning:
Going across Waynesville Mountain (U.S. 276 between Waynesville and Bethel), six cars were in the ditch before the top.
7:10 a.m.: Power outage update
Most Duke Energy customers in Buncombe County who were without power earlier have had their power restored, according to its outage website. Duke Energy previously reported that nearly 5,000 Buncombe customers were without power. As of 7:10 a.m., that number was down to 21.
Elsewhere in the region:
Cherokee County: 34 customers without power; 11 a.m. estimated time of restoration.
Graham: 350; 1 p.m.
Haywood: 519; 1 p.m.
Henderson: 2,034; 1 p.m.
Jackson: 231; 1:45 p.m.
Macon: 515; 12:30 p.m.
McDowell: 427; 1 p.m.
Polk: 143; 1 p.m.
Swain: 517; 1 p.m.
Transylvania: 125; 1 p.m.
7 a.m.: Downtown photos
Citizen Times photojournalist Maya Carter is in downtown Asheville, where there is a dusting of snow so far. Here are some of the images she has captured.
6:35 a.m.: Buncombe County on a delay
Here's a press release from Buncombe County that just came in:
Due to inclement weather, Buncombe County offices and facilities will operate on a two-hour delay, opening at 10 a.m. The vaccine clinic located at 40 Coxe Ave. in Asheville will open at 10 a.m. Public libraries are closed on Mondays.
6:30 a.m.: City says it's prepared for snow removal
From a press release from city of Asheville spokesperson Polly McDaniel:
Asheville’s Streets Division is ready for the snow. Asheville Public Works prepped all snow removal equipment during the New Year’s weekend and staff are ready to begin salting and plowing streets once accumulation begins.
All Streets Division trucks are equipped to double as plows and salt spreaders and ready to respond when the storm starts. The City has 4,000+ tons of salt on hand to treat roads. Salt spreaders are loaded and ready to go.
City Streets crews will stay on the job around the clock as needed, to remove any accumulating snow, first from our priority one streets, then moving into secondary / neighborhood streets as the priority routes are cleared. Priority one roads are major routes needed for emergency response as well as streets where ART bus routes run. Streets crews will also remove snow on sidewalks in front of City-owned property.
6:20 a.m.: Road conditions
The N.C. Department of Transportation reports that roads in some WNC areas are becoming hazardous.
Madison County: Interstate and primary roads are covered in snow or ice. (5:37 a.m.)
Graham County: Primary roads are covered kin snow or ice. (6:08 a.m.)
Henderson County: Interstate-26 eastbound ramp at Exit 44 (Asheville Highway) was closed at 6:12 a.m. because of a "weather event."
Haywood County: Interstate and Primary roads are covered in snow or ice. (6:25 a.m.)
6:10 a.m.: No snow in Black Mountain
Black Mountain News reporter Ezra Maille checked in to say there is rain and hail in Black Mountain but no snow. Predictive radar shows snow moving into the eastern part Buncombe County later this morning, but that it also will move out quickly.
6:05 a.m.: It's snowing hard in Alexander
Roger Shelton sent this report:
"We have around 2 inches already in Alexander this morning, and it’s still coming down hard. It’s a wet snow but is sticking. Luckily we still have power after a lot of wind last night."
6 a.m.: Power outages
There are 4,846 customers without power in Buncombe County, according to Duke Energy. Additional outages are scattered across Western North Carolina:
Graham: 175 customers without power
Haywood: 194
Henderson: 1,521
Jackson: 210
Macon: 744
McDowell: 355
Swain: 514
Transylvania: 121
5:50 a.m.: Transit and other city delays
Asheville bus service will not begin until 10 a.m. Monday, according to a press release issued Sunday night.
Also:
Burton Street Community Center, Grant Southside Center and Harvest House will be closed Monday.
Snow day care for City Schools will open at 9 a.m. Monday at the Tempie Avery Montford Center.
Stephens-Lee and Linwood Crump Shiloh centers will open at noon Monday, weather permitting.
5:45 a.m.: School closings
Both Asheville City and Buncombe County schools are on a remote learning schedule today.
5:30 a.m.: Forecast
The National Weather Service says Asheville had a chance of getting less than a half inch of snow overnight. But a winter storm advisory issued at 5:15 a.m. says heavy snow is likely to move in with 2-4 inches possible. Because the snow is expected to come down heavily, even though road surfaces are warm, snow could accumulate on them. So, be careful if driving over the next few hours.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Live Asheville snow storm updates: NWS forecast, power outages
