ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The city of Asheville is activating its Emergency Operations Plan and suspending some services as it prepares for winter weather expected to impact the area this weekend, city officials said Friday.
As part of the response, Asheville Redefines Transit bus service will be suspended beginning at noon Saturday and will remain offline through Sunday. City officials said transit service could resume sooner if road conditions improve and urged riders to monitor service alerts for updates.
City water officials said all 37 municipal water storage tanks are being topped off and will be maintained at capacity throughout the storm to help ensure uninterrupted service.
Several city facilities will be closed through the weekend, including all Parks & Recreation community centers and the Western North Carolina Nature Center. All recreation programming, including scheduled basketball games, has been canceled.
City leaders also issued a reminder about parking restrictions to support snow and ice removal. Residents are asked not to park on roadways after 5 p.m. Friday. All city-owned parking garages will be open and free beginning at that time. In neighborhoods without off-street parking, officials asked residents to park vehicles on the same side of the street to allow plows and treatment vehicles to operate safely.
Officials said improperly parked vehicles are one of the largest obstacles to effective snow removal.
The city also announced that the 2026 Point-in-Time count of people experiencing homelessness has been rescheduled because of the Winter Storm Warning in effect for Buncombe County. The count, originally planned for Jan. 27-28, will now take place Feb. 10-11. Additional information about volunteering will be released next week.
City officials said staff from multiple departments have been coordinating preparations and will continue to work around the clock with local and state partners throughout the storm.
Residents are encouraged to prepare early, take weather warnings seriously, and check on neighbors, particularly seniors, people with disabilities, and others who may need additional assistance.