ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A gradual warmup is expected across Western North Carolina on Tuesday as the region begins to thaw from last week’s winter storm, though rain and the chance of light mountain snow could return later in the day, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg said temperatures will climb to about 5 degrees above normal Tuesday. Rain chances will increase by late afternoon or early evening in the mountains and spread to the rest of the area overnight as a cold front approaches from the west. Light snow accumulation of less than an inch is possible late Tuesday night at higher elevations.
Low pressure moving along a stalled cold front is expected to keep precipitation over the area through Wednesday, with conditions improving Wednesday night as the system moves out. Another brief round of mountain snow is possible Friday night, though temperatures are forecast to return to seasonal averages heading into the weekend.
Local governments announced delayed openings and service adjustments as conditions slowly improved following Winter Storm Gianna.
The City of Asheville said city offices will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Asheville Parks and Recreation community centers will be open from noon to 4:30 p.m., but all programs, including basketball, afterschool activities and senior dining, are canceled. Riverside Cemetery will remain closed.
Asheville transit routes are expected to resume as conditions allow on individual routes, and sanitation collection will run Tuesday with a delayed start, serving Monday customers. Icy roads will not be serviced, and missed roads may be attempted on following days. Road crews continue working around the clock on priority routes, city officials said.
Buncombe County government offices, libraries and parks will also open at 10 a.m. Tuesday due to ongoing road impacts. The county landfill and transfer station will open at 8 a.m. on their regular schedule and will hold a household hazardous waste event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FCC Environmental plans to operate on a one-day delay for trash collection where road conditions allow, with Friday collections scheduled for Saturday. Excess bagged trash from missed collections the week of Jan. 30 will be collected, though some icy or snow-covered roads may remain inaccessible.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners will meet in person at 5 p.m. Tuesday at 200 College St. without a briefing. The Buncombe County Courthouse, operated by the N.C. Judicial Branch, is scheduled to open at 11 a.m. Mountain Mobility customers are encouraged to check for schedule updates before traveling.