Weather Watch: Thousands without power as Winter Storm Fern sweeps through WNC

Some hospitals in the region are experiencing an increase in injuries related to the winter weather.

At UNC Health Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, the emergency department reported an increase in hypothermia cases and injuries related to falls, including broken bones. That’s according to Dr. Greg McCarty, the hospital’s chief medical officer.

Pardee has also been treating some patients for carbon monoxide poisoning. In a statement, McCarty urged people to refrain from using gas-powered generators or heaters indoors, and to head to the ER immediately if they are experiencing symptoms such as headaches, confusion, dizziness or shortness of breath.

“We urge people to ensure generators and heaters are used only in well-ventilated areas, never indoors, and to have a working carbon monoxide detector in every home,” McCarty said.

Katie Czerwinski, a spokesperson for HCA Healthcare, said several of the hospital system's emergency rooms in Western North Carolina, including the one at Asheville's Mission Hospital, are "seeing an increased number of orthopedic injuries from slipping on ice."

"This includes sprains, strains and fractures," Czerwinski said in an email.

Not all hospitals are seeing an increase in patients, however.

AdventHealth Hospital in Hendersonville said its ER hasn’t seen an influx of storm-related injuries. Spokesperson Rebecca Grissom said that’s likely because community members have been taking precautions and staying off the roads during the hazardous weather.

Note: This post has been updated to include comment from an HCA Healthcare spokesperson.

Utility workers are racing to restore power in Henderson County today before temperatures plunge into the single digits tonight. Sunday evening, nearly 15,000 customers were without electricity — the highest outage count in North Carolina.

A Duke Energy spokesman told BPR the power company has deployed 500 lineworkers with a goal of restoring power to nearly all of the county by midnight. Henderson County Communications Director Mike Morgan is asking for patience while those crews navigate the icy conditions.

“We know it’s cold, it’s horrible, it’s icy. Just take this day to stay in, stay off the roads if you can, and let these folks get their work done," Morgan said. "Of course, we've got the real horrible cold coming in too, so it’s good news that they can get a lot of power restored, and we hope they're able to do that."

As of 3 p.m. Monday, 5,700 customers in the county remain without power and 31 people have checked into the county's emergency shelter. Local officials continue to urge neighbors to check on one another as the extreme cold moves in tonight.

Duke Energy is reporting approximately 14,000 people are without power in Henderson County. It is, by far, the most outages of any county in western North Carolina. About 1,400 people are without power in Buncombe County and 2,000 are without power in Transylvania County.

“We encourage residents to stay off the roads and allow Duke crews to work and NCDOT to clear the roads,” Henderson County spokesman Mike Morgan wrote in an email.

Statewide, just under 40,000 people are without power, according to a Duke Power outage tracker.

“Due to the severity of the icing and difficulties associated with poor travel conditions, crews are only beginning damage assessments where conditions safely allow. Please remain vigilant and avoid downed power lines and storm debris,” according to the Duke Energy website.

This morning, a 12-inch water main break drained over half of the town of Waynesville’s water storage, according to a news release.

The leak has been found and the tank is refilling, according to the release.

Town officials are asking that residents conserve water for essential use only, or use bottled water for the next 48 hours.

A Boil Water Advisory remains in effect, town officials said to boil water for one minute before use.

Courthouses across the western part of the state announced more than a dozen closures due to weather.

A full list of court closures – including Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania Counties – can be found here.

If your court session was closed or canceled due to inclement weather your case will be rescheduled. Generally, notification of your new court date is sent by mail. However, you may contact the clerk of court’s office of the county in which you were charged, or your attorney, on how to proceed.

As well as courthouses, many non-emergency government services will be closed throughout the region Monday. Included are Buncombe, Henderson, Polk and Transylvania Counties. Asheville’s city offices will also be closed.

Nearly every public school district in the region has cancelled in-person classes for Monday. Some of the districts are mandating remote learning, but most are giving students and teachers the day off due to the dangerous road conditions and power outages.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the University of North Carolina Asheville and Western Carolina University have all cancelled classes on Monday as well.

Most arriving and departing flights at Asheville Regional Airport on Sunday were canceled due to the storm, according to the airport’s website.

Travelers should check with their airline for the latest flight updates.

The airport has also temporarily relocated its Ride App & Taxi pick up zone to the front curb outside the ticket lobby through Monday, Jan. 26.

At a Sunday morning briefing, Gov. Josh Stein urged North Carolinians to remain off the roads for the next few days due to dangerous conditions and keep their devices charged in case the power goes out.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said.

There were three brief interstate closures in the past day, but all have since reopened, Stein said.

State Highway Patrol has responded to hundreds of car crashes and removed abandoned vehicles from roadways, he added.

“Right now, there’s a lot of ice and wintry junk on the roads,” Stein said. “As temperatures get colder, that will only turn to hard ice. Fortunately, there’s not many cars on the road. That’s a good thing. We want to keep it that way.”

Power outages continue to occur across the region. As of noon on Sunday, more than 7,500 people in North Carolina were without power, according to Duke Energy.

“If you lose power, contact your utility immediately,” Stein said.

Winter Storm Fern has left 6,235 people in North Carolina without power as of 10:15 a.m. Sunday, according to Duke Energy.

The majority of those are in Western North Carolina, with Transylvania, Macon, Haywood, Buncombe and Rutherford counties the hardest hit so far.

Overnight, wintry precipitation blanketed much of the region. Residents woke up to dangerously slick roads, trees and foliage covered in ice. More precipitation is expected as the day goes on.

An ice storm warning remains in effect through 1 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Frigid temperatures next week could extend the threat for hazardous travel and impacts from power outages for several days,” the NWS said in its latest briefing.

The towns of Waynesville and Lake Junaluska in Haywood County are under a boil water notice due to a water line break.

In Buncombe County, storm shelters are currently serving 60 people and will continue to be open throughout the storm, according to a county update Sunday morning.

Gov. Josh Stein will hold his latest briefing at 11:30 a.m. A live stream will be broadcast on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The federal government has approved Governor Josh Stein’s state emergency declaration ahead of Winter Storm Fern.

In a press conference on Saturday morning, Stein said the declaration allows the state to access federal resources, including additional generators for critical facilities such as hospitals. The aid will also support emergency shelter operations by providing emergency food, water and fuel.

The state also has  95 National Guard Force units that will assist with clearing roadways from downed trees, helping disabled motorists, supplementing first responders and assisting with food and water distribution.

Widespread power outages, dangerous road conditions and freezing temperatures remain the top concerns for state officials.

“ If you choose to drive in the conditions that we anticipate will impact our roads, you are rolling the dice with poor odds,” Daniel Johnson, state Secretary of Transportation, said on Saturday. “The risk of crashing in these conditions is high, which can lead to serious injury or being stranded in a disabled vehicle in bitterly cold conditions.”

Stein urged residents to stay home. If residents absolutely need to be on the road, check the NCDOT website for road conditions and check the National Weather Service website for the latest weather updates.

Big or small, utilities providing electricity to Western North Carolinians are preparing for Winter Storm Fern.

As of now, 18,000 Duke Energy workers — from linemen to tree trimmers to damager assessors — are staging in Western North Carolina. They’re coming in from 27 states, Duke Energy spokesperson Carolina Fountain said.

Duke is also monitoring the forecasts with an in-house meteorologist team, keeping field crews informed about changing predictions and conditions throughout the region.

The big danger to power lines is the ice. “It takes up to 6 inches of wet, heavy snow in order to start breaking tree limbs and trees, which then could impact our power lines,” Fountain said. “It only takes about a quarter of an inch of ice to do that same thing.”

However, there’s a limit to how quickly lines can be repaired in adverse conditions, Fountain said. Some customers may have to wait at least a day, especially in rural areas where downed trees can pose an additional logistical challenge.

“Now is the time to prepare for what could be a very major winter storm,” she said.

The utility is staging throughout Western North Carolina in order to increase the speed and efficiency of storm response. Fountain added that some of the systems were strengthened after multi-week outages in parts of the state after Helene revealed weaknesses in the regional grid. The utility has upgraded to self-healing technology, which detects outages electronically and then automatically re-routes power where it’s needed. The utility has also buried some power lines in order to protect from future mass outages.

Customers can check active outages and estimated repair times at Duke Energy’s outage map. They can also report outages on Duke’s website.

Meanwhile, smaller, rural electric cooperatives are also preparing.

“Our crews are ready to do whatever it takes to safely restore everyone’s electricity ASAP, but the weather and road conditions are definitely going to be a challenge,” the French Broad Electric Cooperative’s posted on Facebook two days ago.

Allan Gladwell, the general manager of Blue Ridge EMC in Cherokee County and Clay County, where higher snowfall is expected, told BPR that the utility is ready to respond to outages if they hit.

“Our communication systems have been checked over, and all the backup generation for our radio towers and communications will be operational,” Glidewell said. “All our fuel tanks are topped off. We've got at least two crews coming in external that we're going to stage pre-event,”

He’s hoping for the best, though so much is difficult to predict.

“Where it occurs, to what extent it occurs, and more importantly, what's damaged versus what's not,” Glidewell added, “that dictates the show from the time that it starts. And all that is in the great unknown.”

North Carolina has activated the National Guard in response to the approaching Winter Storm Fern.

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Gov. Josh Stein announced the state has tapped more than 400 National Guard members to help with clearing roadways, assisting stranded motorists, and distributing supplies like MREs, water and blankets.

The state also has the Forest Service and additional chainsaw crews available on standby for handling downed trees.

Widespread power outages and dangerous roads remain top concerns throughout the state. Cell service may also be impacted, Stein acknowledged.

The ice can “topple towers,” he said. “There will also be an incredible demand on the system. Folks are going to be at home. They're going to want information. So we expect that people are really going to be maximally utilizing the networks, which will cause their own issues.”

He encouraged North Carolinians to get battery operated radios. “So that you can stay informed, even if you lose communications through modern means,” he said.

In an emailed statement, a Verizon spokesperson told BPR that the company is working to “harden our cell sites and infrastructure ahead of the storm.” That includes employing batteries and generators as backup systems, pre-arranging fuel deliveries with strategically positioned tankers, and preparing mobile cell sites, temporary emergency command centers, and mobile generators for action.

Verizon will provide additional updates online. At&T also shared a webpage with updates.

Buncombe County officials declared a local state of emergency Friday as the National Weather Service upgraded its forecast, issuing an Ice Storm Warning for much of Western North Carolina ahead of Winter Storm Fern.

At a live winter storm preparedness briefing Friday morning, Buncombe County officials continued to urge residents to take the incoming storm seriously.

“ The time to prepare is right now,” Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Amanda Edwards said. “Make sure you have enough food and water on hand for several days. Ensure any prescriptions are filled, and make a plan for what you will do if you lose power.”

County officials also announced the opening of three county shelters starting Saturday morning at 9 a.m.:

• Hearts With Hands, 850 Warren Wilson Road,   Swannanoa
• Clyde A. Erwin High School Gymnasium, 60 Lees Creek Road, Asheville
• Reuter Family YMCA, 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 

Shelters will have cots and blankets available, but officials ask residents to bring a change of clothes, toiletries, cell phone chargers and other personal items. Residents who take prescription medications should bring them. Pets are not allowed.

Officials said people will be screened for health concerns at the shelter, noting that seasonal respiratory illnesses are circulating and measles cases have been confirmed in the county.

North Carolina Department of Transportation Western Communications Manager David Uchiyama was also present at Tuesdays briefing. He said crews have spent the week pre-treating major roads, including I-40, I-26 and I-240, ahead of the storm.

Uchiyama also urged residents to stay off the roads once conditions worsen so crews and emergency responders can do their work.

In Asheville, officials reminded residents to remove vehicles from city streets starting Friday evening to allow snowplows to operate. City-owned parking garages will be open free of charge during the storm.

For a list of important phone numbers and supplies that could help during an emergency in the county,  head to www.buncombeready.org.

Laura Hackett

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BPR News

At a staging center in Asheville, transportation workers have spent the week mixing brine and preparing large piles of salt and sand with a shovel truck. The goal is to prepare a stockpile of supplies that will help protect – and later remediate – roads from the dangerous snow and ice expected to arrive on Saturday morning.

As the storm has shifted into more of an ice threat, the risk of hazardous road conditions and widespread power outages has sharply increased. It takes only a quarter of an inch to disrupt power lines. As of Friday morning, most of the region is projected to receive upwards of half an inch.

Paul Roberts, a maintenance engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said the state has already put down hundreds of thousands of gallons of brine on roads. He said there are more than 2,000 workers, and an additional fleet of contractors, ready to jump into action as the state anticipates black ice and other hazardous driving conditions through early next week.

Read more about how local residents and state officials are preparing for Winter Storm Fern.

The Forest Service is closing a large number of roads in advance of the snowstorm to public access. These include:

• On the Pisgah National Forest

  • FSR 467 (Hurricane Gap)
  • FSR 982 (Mortimer-Piedmont)
  • FSR 210 (Roses Creek)
  • FSR 187 (Maple Sally)
  • FSR 197 (Raven Cliff)
  • FSR 469 (Armstrong)
  • FSR 479 (Bent Creek)
  • FSR 5000 (Wash Creek)
  • FSR 1206 (Yellow Gap)
  • FSR 477 (Avery Creek)
  • FSR 475 (Davidson River) -- between Cove Creek and Gloucester Gap
  • FSR 475B (Headwaters)
  • Pisgah Visitors Center (Saturday, January 24 only)

• On the Nantahala National Forest

  • FSR 340 (Fires Creek)
  • FSR 423 (Tatham Gap)
  • FSR 440 (Tuni Gap)
  • Whitewater Falls

The Forest Service may close additional roads throughout the weekend, and will generally not be plowing or de-icing open roads. Caution is advised for traveling through Forest Service lands during the storm system this weekend. Do not attempt to open Forest Service gates if closed.

For information on state-managed road closures throughout the national forests, visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation website.

Buncombe County officials held a live winter storm preparedness briefing Thursday afternoon, warning that increasingly icy conditions could lead to power outages, hazardous travel and prolonged cold across Western North Carolina. County emergency services leaders and local partners outlined response plans as forecasts continued to point toward significant ice accumulation this weekend.

“At this time, we have three primary concerns: hazardous living conditions, power outages, and dangerously cold weather that will carry well into next week,” said Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder. “The time to prepare is now.”

Emergency managers urged residents to be ready to shelter in place for at least 72 hours, limit travel, and stock up on food, water, medications and other supplies.

In Asheville, officials asked residents to clear cars from city streets starting Friday evening to allow snowplows to operate. They said city-owned parking garages will be open free of charge during the storm. Clay Chandler, a spokesperson for Asheville Water Resources, said storage tanks are being kept full, generators have been filled up at the treatment plants and pump stations, and water crews will be on call throughout the storm.

Officials also said shelters and warming stations are being prepared if needed, utilities are staffing up, and residents should take steps now to protect water pipes and use heaters and generators safely.

Angi Daus, a spokesperson for Asheville Regional Airport, said anyone planning to fly into or out of the airport in the coming days should check with their airline for the latest updates on flight schedules and cancellations.

Passengers should also plan to arrive at least two hours before their boarding time, she said.

“The staff has been working for days now, prepping to ensure that we have all of our resources in the right places and that we can respond as efficiently as possible for when the weather does hit,” Daus told BPR in an interview. “And so, we feel really confident in the staff’s ability to do so.”

AVL will be providing updates on its social media platforms as well as its website.

Daus said the two biggest operational goals for the airport right now are maintaining safe airfields and making sure they can remain open.

“I think everyone realizes this is a pretty unique weather system as it’s being called out right now,” Daus said. “So, we’ll just be watching and working with all of our community partners in the area to understand what’s coming, and from an operational standpoint, we’re ready and waiting.”

Felicia Sonmez

At a press briefing Thursday morning, Gov. Josh Stein said the state’s greatest concerns are potential power outages and road safety over the coming days.

“Ice accumulation may lead to power outages, and we recommend everyone keep their devices charged, have a flashlight and battery-operated radio on hand, and think about what you may need to stay warm and fed if you lose power,” Stein said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has already put down 300,000 gallons of brine on the state’s roads in preparation for the storm, he noted.

“Thawing and re-freezing leads to black ice, so everyone needs to be careful on the roads not only during the storm, but for a few days after the storm hits,” Stein said. “Please avoid driving unless it is necessary to travel.”

The website ReadyNC.gov has more details on how to prepare for the storm.

Stein was joined at the briefing by several officials including state Emergency Management Director Will Ray and state Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson.

Johnson said NCDOT has been preparing all week for the storm. More than 2,100 specially-trained employees are available to respond, he said, and 1,100 of those employees have already been at work pretreating the roads.

“The latest forecasts show a widespread event that’s likely to spread ice throughout the state of North Carolina – an event that has the potential to impact all roads in North Carolina,” Johnson said. “Some locations could see winter weather like they haven’t seen in years. For these reasons, this storm has our full attention.”

State equipment at the ready includes 1,250 dump trucks that can be fitted to clear snow and ice, and 913 contract trucks.

Ray said “hotspot crews” — combination teams of NCDOT and North Carolina National Guard members — will be deployed along major roadways in Western North Carolina, including along I-40 in Clyde, I-40 at Old Fort, along the Saluda Grade in Polk County.

He added that the southwest part of the state is likely to see the greatest impact from the storm.

“Ice accumulations of around a half inch of ice or more can cause an increase in downed trees or impact power lines and lead to an increase in power outages, as well as to hazardous travel conditions,” Ray said.

One problem area in Western North Carolina is Interstate 40 along the Pigeon River Gorge heading into Tennessee. Stein said the road currently remains open and that state officials are keeping a close eye on conditions there.

The looming winter storm poised to hit Western North Carolina this weekend has the potential to be one of the worst ice storms the region has seen in over two decades, according to the National Weather Service.

Precipitation — including snow or freezing rain — is expected to move into the region starting Saturday afternoon.

Areas more north of the mountains could see a mixture of sleet and freezing rain to start the storm and then snow. Places towards South Carolina could see no snow and only freezing rain and sleet with the worst of the precipitation happening Saturday night through Sunday.

“The Asheville area, the French Broad Valley and going up into the Northern mountains, that's gonna be affected worse than the far western mountains toward Bryson City and Robbinsville,” Doug Outlaw of the National Weather Service, Greenville-Spartanburg office told BPR.

Outlaw added that the winter weather event this weekend could exceed the Dec. 15, 2005 ice storm that hit the region and Northeast Georgia. It left behind ice accumulations from one-quarter and three-quarters of an inch and also caused widespread damage to trees and power lines, resulting in numerous power outages.

“This one has the potential to be, historically, one of the worst ice storms that we've ever had for this region if we have over a half inch of freezing rain," Outlaw said. "That, of course, is gonna bring down numerous trees and power lines. It's going to take a long time for the power companies to restore the grid network.”

Residents are heavily encouraged to start preparing ahead of time and to continue to monitor the NWS website and its social media for the latest updates.

Expected potential snow, sleet, and ice fall: Total snow and sleet buildup may be between 1 and 3 inches and ice accumulations could be anywhere from one-half and 1 inch. The highest snow and sleet accumulations are possible north of Interstate 40, while the greatest ice accumulations could occur in the southern mountains of North Carolina, the mountains of northeast Georgia and the mountains of South Carolina.

Potential Impacts: Significant ice and snow on power lines and tree limbs could cause the lines to fall, causing widespread and long-lasting power outages. Roads across the regions may become treacherous and impassable and hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute. Freezing temperatures on Monday could cause ice and sleet to melt slower.

On Wednesday, Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency ahead of a winter storm that could bring widespread power outages and hazardous road conditions to North Carolina.

The storm is slated to arrive in Western North Carolina early Saturday morning. While the forecast is still subject to change, an early report from the National Weather Service predicts total snow and sleet accumulations could range from one to six inches. Ice accumulations could reach between four-tenths to an inch, which is enough to disrupt power lines.

Road conditions are expected to grow dangerous early Saturday and could remain hazardous for several days after the storm due to the sustained subfreezing temperatures expected throughout next week.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has been preparing for the storm over the last few days by pre-treating roads, bridges and overpasses with brine, restocking salt supplies and making sure equipment is ready to respond to the storm and its aftermath, according to a press release from Stein’s office.

To prepare for winter weather, North Carolina Emergency Management officials recommend these tips:

• Pay close attention to your local forecast and be prepared for what’s expected in your area.  
• Keep cell phones, mobile devices, and spare batteries charged.  
• Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio or a weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.  
• Dress warmly. Wear multiple layers of thin clothing instead of a single layer of thick clothing.  
• Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit, and road map.  
• Gather emergency supplies for your pet, including leash and care supplies, enough food for several days, and a pet travel carrier.  
• Do not leave pets outside for long periods of time during freezing weather.  
• Look out for your friends, neighbors, and the elderly during winter weather. 

If your power goes out:

• Ensure generators are operated outside and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. 
• Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors. 
• Properly vent kerosene heaters. 
• Use battery-powered sources for light, instead of candles, to reduce the risk of fire. 

Visit ReadyNC.gov  for more information on winter weather safety and preparation. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov, or follow NCDOT on social media.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Western North Carolina from Saturday morning and through Monday afternoon.

A watch is issued when the risk of hazardous weather has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing remains uncertain. It’s intended to give people time to prepare and make safety plans.

According to the NWS, a heavy mixed precipitation — including snow and ice — is possible. Total snow and sleet accumulations could range from 1 to 6 inches, while ice accumulations could reach four-tenths to an 1 inch.

Forecast models can change but residents are encouraged to start preparing ahead of time. The NWS recommends that people continue to monitor the NWS website and their social media for the latest updates.

Expected potential snow, sleet, and ice fall: The highest snow and sleet accumulations are possible north of Interstate 40, while the greatest ice accumulations could occur in the southern mountains of North Carolina, the mountains of northeast Georgia and the mountains of South Carolina.

Potential Impacts: Significant ice and snow on power lines and tree limbs could cause the lines to fall, causing widespread and long-lasting power outages. Roads across the regions may become treacherous and impassable, and hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.

A winter storm headed to WNC this weekend could create problems for the region's infrastructure. Although the predictions for how intense the storm will be are still unclear, officials say power outages and water line breaks are possible.

Jeffrey Brooks, a spokesperson with Duke Energy, told BPR that the power company is preparing for “the potential of outages” in the area.

“We will be evaluating whether we need to bring in additional crews,” he said. “We haven't made a decision on that yet.”

As forecasts grow more accurate over the next few days, the threat to the tree canopy, and subsequently, power lines will become more clear, Brooks said.

Read the entire story here.

The potential for a significant winter weather event across Western North Carolina this weekend is increasing, according to the National Weather Service.

Precipitation — including snow or freezing rain — could move into the region beginning Friday night, Jan. 23, or Saturday, Jan. 24.

“ Over the mountains it looks like a high probability that it's going to fall as snow or possibly sleet,” Patrick Moore of the National Weather Service, Greenville-Spartanburg office told BPR. “East of the mountains it’s a lot trickier because of what time the cold air makes it and what time the precipitation arrives. It's really looking like a tricky situation where we could have snow, sleet, and freezing rain in parts of Western North Carolina.”

Moore adds the NWS expects to have a full picture of the storm by Thursday to determine the system timing, temperatures, precipitation amounts and where the storm will have the greatest impact.

Forecast models can change and residents are encouraged to start preparing ahead of time. Moore recommends that people monitor the NWS website and their social media for the latest updates.

• Expected potential snowfall:  Four inches of snow in some places in the region.  The most significant snow potential would be over the mountains, over the northern foothills and Northwest Piedmont of North Carolina, along north Interstate 40.
• Potential impacts: Hazardous driving conditions, power outages, and potential for below freezing temperatures in higher elevations that last days after the storm is done.