ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Icy conditions made travel hazardous across parts of Buncombe County on Monday morning, with drivers reporting slick secondary roads and multiple vehicles sliding off roadways.
While major routes such as Smokey Park Highway and Patton Avenue were reported clear in some areas, back roads in Enka, Candler and West Asheville were described as icy and, in some cases, treacherous.
Several drivers shared accounts on social media of vehicles in ditches and low visibility along interstates and mountain roads.
A driver traveling from Lake Logan Road along N.C. 110 to Smokey Park Highway and Patton Avenue toward Leicester said he lost traction multiple times and saw a truck slide off an exit ramp. Others reported snow-covered lanes and poor visibility along Interstate 26 near Mars Hill and Wolf Laurel, as well as between Johnson City and Erwin, Tennessee.
Riceville Road off Tunnel Road in Asheville was described as “a mess,” with cars sliding. Leicester Highway was reported slick in spots, particularly before reaching Patton Avenue. Portions of N.C. 19-23 and Smokey Park Highway from Clyde eastward were also described as slick.
Drivers noted that heavier-traveled roads were sometimes more hazardous because of melting snow refreezing on the pavement. Some residential roads had not yet been plowed or salted.
Broad River Fire & Rescue reports says a road closure on N.C. 9 south near Bat Cave after a reported slide and a downed tree near Minihaha Falls late Sunday has been cleared.
Conditions varied widely across the region. Some drivers reported relatively clear stretches, including parts of U.S. 25 near Hendersonville and Cowee Mountain, while others described Interstate 26 as snow-covered with lanes difficult to see.
Motorists are urged to use caution and check current conditions before traveling. Traffic cameras and real-time updates are available through the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s DriveNC website.