Asheville, North Carolina, braces for a winter storm with significant ice accumulation, leading to trash collection and recycling suspensions. The City of Asheville has announced that trash collection and recycling services will be suspended due to the closure of the Buncombe County landfill and transfer stations on Monday, January 26th. Residents are advised to stay updated through the city's website and social media for further information and scheduling impacts.
The storm has also caused closures at popular attractions, including the Biltmore Estate, National Forests, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Biltmore Estate is closed to daytime visitors and passholders on Sunday, January 25th and Monday, January 26th. The Pisgah National Forest has closed several trails, including Hurricane Gap, Mortimer-Piedmont, Roses Creek, Maple Sally, Raven cliff, Armstrong, Bent Creek, Wash Creek, Yellow Gap, Avery Creek, Davidson River, and Headwaters. The Pisgah Visitors Center is closed on Saturday, January 24th. The Nantahala National Forest has also closed Fires Creek, Tatham Gap, Tuni Gap, and Whitewater falls. The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed parkwide in Virginia and North Carolina, with minimal plowing and no salting.
Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency for North Carolina ahead of the winter storm, which is expected to bring significant ice accumulation over the weekend. Stein requested the federal emergency declaration on Friday evening and received approval from the White House on Saturday morning. The governor has been holding daily press briefings since Thursday, January 22nd, to provide updates on the storm's potential impacts. An Ice Storm Warning is in effect for much of western North Carolina due to a major ice storm expected to arrive Saturday night and continue through Sunday evening. Most of the region is expected to see around a half-inch of ice, with higher totals near the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
