Buncombe County under winter storm warning 4 p.m. Friday, 4-6 inches expected

A winter storm warning takes effect at 4 p.m. Friday for Buncombe County, and local officials warn that travel could deteriorate quickly as temperatures drop into the 20s and snow begins to stick. Buncombe County Emergency Services says the county is now preparing for measurable snow and has adjusted operations for Friday night and Saturday.

“Buncombe County Emergency Services is coordinating with the National Weather Service to monitor a weather system headed toward Western North Carolina,” the county said in a Jan. 29 release. In a Jan. 30 update the county added: “The confidence for snow accumulation is increasing, and Buncombe County is expecting 4-6” with some higher elevations seeing more. This is predicted to be a light, powdery snow. [...] The Winter Storm Warning starts at 4 p.m. today and goes through 7 a.m. Sunday. Unlike last week's ice storm, no significant impacts to power are expected at this time, and Buncombe County does not have any planned community briefings or additional sheltering activations.”

Practical impacts are already in place. Mountain Mobility canceled evening trips for Jan. 30 and announced a delayed opening at noon Saturday, Jan. 31. Buncombe County parks and libraries will open at 10 a.m. Saturday. The county landfill and transfer station currently remain on normal schedule. County officials said they will continue to monitor conditions overnight and make any additional operational decisions by 7 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg warned of heavier regional impacts and urged caution. “WHAT: Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. WHERE: A portion of Western North Carolina. WHEN: From 4 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. EST Sunday. IMPACTS: The heavy snow will make many roads impassable and may produce isolated power outages due to the weight of the snow on tree limbs and power lines. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute. Strong winds could cause damage to trees and power lines. [...] ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Snow is expected to rapidly stick to roads and other surfaces due to temperatures in the 20s. Travel conditions could deteriorate rapidly as early as Friday evening. Very gusty winds on Saturday could result in areas of blowing snow, causing very poor visibility.” The NWS also advised, “Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. Slow down and use caution while traveling. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”

Local context underscores why even modest totals matter here. WLOS noted much of the mountains could see at least 2 inches, a depth that would end a long local snow drought at Asheville Regional Airport; that airport last recorded 2 inches or more on Jan. 16, 2022. At the state level, North Carolina Governor Stein declared a State of Emergency ahead of the system, and some mountain school districts moved to close early Friday.

An Instagram post circulating with different dates appears to reference an earlier advisory and conflicts with the county and NWS timeline; county officials and weather products issued Jan. 29–30 show the current warning window running from 4 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Residents should follow county updates, watch NWS products for the latest timing and hazards, and prepare for reduced visibility and rapidly changing road conditions through the weekend.