ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A prolonged winter storm continued to create dangerous conditions across western and central North Carolina on Sunday, with freezing rain, sleet and ice leading to hazardous travel, power outages and water system disruptions.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg said that as of 10 a.m. Sunday, many locations across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia had reported sleet changing to freezing rain. Forecasters warned the storm was not over, with periods of heavier freezing rain expected later in the day.
Officials urged residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and to remain prepared for possible power outages.
Across the Asheville area, residents reported widespread ice despite limited visible precipitation in some locations. In East Asheville, several residents said power and water service remained intact, but parking lots, driveways and roads were coated in ice, creating treacherous conditions. Similar reports came from West Asheville along Haywood Road, where slick surfaces persisted despite minimal active precipitation.
Conditions varied widely across Buncombe County and surrounding areas. In North Asheville and Weaverville, residents reported little to no ice accumulation and light rain at times. Others in Woodfin described roads as “solid ice,” while areas such as Oakley, Montford, Leicester and Candler reported icy driveways and slick roads with power largely remaining on.
In Asheville, fire officials reported extremely icy conditions on roads and sidewalks throughout the city. Public Works crews were salting roadways continuously, and trucks were outfitted with chains and cables, but conditions remained dangerous. Authorities again asked the public to stay off the roads for safety.
North Carolina’s Weather Authority reported a wide range of precipitation across the state, including freezing rain, freezing mist, sleet and rain. Temperatures along the coast were mostly above freezing, while freezing rain was reported in parts of Macon, Transylvania, Henderson and Polk counties. Power outages were also being reported in several areas.
Across the foothills and central North Carolina, sleet and freezing rain continued, with intermittent light precipitation expected through the day. Forecasters said a line of potentially heavier precipitation accompanied by gusty winds could move through the region Sunday evening. While earlier sleet and snow helped limit ice accumulation in some areas, officials cautioned that additional freezing rain remained possible through the evening.
Local impacts extended beyond road conditions. In Waynesville, town officials issued a boil water advisory effective early Sunday morning for customers served by the town and the Junaluska Sanitary District. Residents were instructed to boil water for at least one minute or use bottled water for drinking, food preparation and hygiene.
Hazelwood Avenue was closed because of a downed power line, and several streets, including Mull Street and Ridge Road, were without water service because of water line breaks. Officials said repairs were underway, though some could take most of the day to complete.
Authorities across the region continued to emphasize caution, noting that road conditions remained treacherous and the evolving weather pattern remained difficult to predict.