News

Although 'things are looking better,' icy roads force schools into remote learning

Cabin Creek Road was covered in ice early Sunday. [AMY B. MCCRAW/Hendersonville Lightning]

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 25, 2026

"Things are looking better in Henderson County today," Mike Morgan, Henderson County's chief information officer, said in a Tuesday morning update on the ice storm that knocked out power to about a fifth of the households in the county and shut down schools and government offices for two days.

The State of Emergency the county declared for Winter Storm Fern will be lifted at 6 p.m. today, the Henderson County Emergency Operations Center will close at 4 p.m. today. The emergency shelter at the Athletics & Activity Center on South Grove Street will close at noon Wednesday.

All is not back to normal, however. 

"While the meltdown continues with today’s sunshine and milder temperatures, there are still many, many secondary roads and even places on some of our school campuses that remain significantly covered with ice," the school system said in a news release issued at 2:15 p.m. "At this point it would be shorter to list the roads we can run buses on rather than those we cannot. Due to these lingering conditions that are still impacting our community, Henderson County Public Schools will operate on a Remote Learning Day on Wednesday. It will be an optional workday for staff."

Guidance for students: "Students should refer to their choice boards to complete assignments. Please note that internet access is not required to complete choice board activities. If you have questions or need support, please contact your student’s school on Wednesday."

Staff members may report on a two-hour delay. Any staff with travel concerns should communicate directly with their supervisor.

The city of Hendersonville also announced that it would lift its state of emergency at 6 p.m. today and call off its dusk-to-dawn curfew. Government offices will be open with regular hours on Wednesday.  
Garbage and recycling routes for Wednesday customers will have a delayed start. Crews will start their routes at 8 a.m.  
"Residents should use EXTREME CAUTION when placing their carts out at the curb as many driveways and sidewalks are extremely slick, especially in shaded areas," the city warned. "There may be portions of the route that crews cannot access due to hazardous conditions. We appreciate customers’ patience and understanding if our staff are unable to access your residence until a later date."

The National Weather Service warned that lows overnight tonight will refreeze runoff from melted snow, creating patchy black ice "especially in spots that are normally shady. Overnight lows the next four days are expected to be 20, 19, 20 and 14.

"Icy patches will remain until temperatures can warm above freezing in the late morning hours on Wednesday," the NWS said. "If traveling late tonight and Wednesday morning, be prepared for slick spots, especially on bridges and overpasses and any untreated roadways. Use extra caution when walking on sidewalks, driveways, and in parking lots."

EARLIER COVERAGE:

Duke Energy crews restored power to nearly 13,000 customers on Monday, one day after a one-two punch of freezing rain  left nearly 14,000 homes and businesses in Henderson County without power.

A fresh round of freezing rain Sunday afternoon caused new power outages for 11,240 Duke Energy customers by 5:15 p.m. The 12,541 outage total at that time was up from 1,301 Sunday morning, and had risen to 13,756 by sunup Monday — almost one in five of the utility's 71,132 users in the county. By 7:30 Monday night, power outages were down to 3,661 and by early Tuesday 629. The utillity that the last customers would be restored by 5:06 Tuesday evening.

The effects of the major ice storm are not over yet. Schools and most non-emergency government offices are closed for a second day on Tuesday and many physician practices and medical clinics remain closed or open under reduced hours.

Tuesday was expected to be sunny, with a high near 40, but with chill values as low as -3.

"The sun will help some of the ice melt, but lows overnight are forecast to fall in single digits," Henderson County Communications Director Mike Morgan said in an update early Monday. "We expect re-freezing of roadways. ... We encourage residents to stay off the roads and allow Duke crews to work and NC DOT to clear the roads."

Morgan said Sunday only a few crashes had been reported with "a few injuries but nothing major that we know of." A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on I-26 east at the Henderson/Polk County line. "NC DOT has been working hard to clear the roads, and residents have done a good job of staying off the roads and allowing DOT and Duke Energy to do their jobs," he added. "Power outages are widespread."

In a cold weather advisory, the National Weather Service warned that gusty northwest winds will increase throughout the day and tonight, "producing dangerously cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero across portions of the North Carolina mountains and Rabun County in northeast Georgia. Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken."

EARLIER COVERAGE:

An overnight ice storm left many roads impassable, but a relatively small percentage of homes and businesses without power, as the area remained under the ice storm warning through 1 p.m. Monday.

The cancellations have begun rolling in: Henderson County schools, Henderson County non-emergency offices (including libraries, transfer station and recycling center) and the city of Hendersonville are closed Monday.

The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory for Henderson, Transylvania, Buncombe, Graham, Macon and southern Jackson counties, warning of frigid wind chills.

"The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 5 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not
taken," the NWS said. "Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat and gloves. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside."

At mid-day Sunday, the storm had cut power to 1,301 customers in Henderson County, 1,369 in Transylvania  and 1,243 in Buncombe. Around 8,000 customers were without power across the region, Duke Energy reported.

The deep freeze means road conditions are unlikely to improve much in the coming days. The forecast calls for lows of 19 tonight, 6 Monday night and 16 Tuesday night. In other updates:

• A state of emergency for Henderson County issued Saturday will continue until emergency service officials advise otherwise. The mayors of Hendersonville, Fletcher, Laurel Park, Flat Rock and Mills River also declared states of emergency.

• The city of Hendersonville imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. Saturday to dawn Sunday and after that from dusk to dawn until the emergency is over. Public works crews will be on duty around the clock to clear roads. Advisory: "Emergency personnel recommend residents monitor local weather reports and limit travel before road conditions become dangerous. When roads are unsafe, stay home. Remember to call 911 only for actual emergencies. Do not call 911 or emergency services phone lines to ask about road conditions or power outage updates. You can visit DriveNC.gov or the Duke Energy website for road and power updates. Please leave 911 lines available for true emergencies."

• Henderson County opened an emergency shelter at the county’s Athletics and Activities Center at 708 South Grove St. at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. It will remain open until it is safe for residents to return home. People going to the shelter are asked to bring essential items if they are able, including medications (and medical devices you rely on), toiletries and personal hygiene items, warm clothing and sturdy shoes, cell phone and charger, important personal items (glasses, hearing aids, etc.). People with pets are asked to bring pet food, medications and a leash or carrier. Emergency shelters are safe places, but they may be crowded, and resources can be limited. Bringing these essentials helps ensure the comfort and continuity of care of the people in the shelter, the county said. A non-emergency call center line is now available: 828-435-2030.

• The Town of Laurel Park warned residents to avoid travel and discouraged parking on roads and cul de sacs so snow plows could clear roadways.
• The National Park Service plans to close parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway. "Based on current forecasts, park visitors can expect closures parkwide beginning the evening of Friday, Jan. 23," the NPS said in a news release. "Park visitors and neighbors should expect closed gates, as well as barricades in ungated sections. Due to the severity of the storm and anticipated widespread impacts, including potential delays in emergency response, winter recreation on the parkway during this storm is strongly discouraged. Closures are expected to remain in place until staff can safely assess road conditions and clear any storm debris."
• The premiere showing of The Chapel Hill Two-Step, a documentary film featuring Hendersonville High School's 1987 and 1992 basketball championships scheduled for Jan. 29, has been cancelled due to the threat of severe weather.  A reschedule date will be announced in the future.
• The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will activate its hotline Saturday, Jan. 24, to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• UNC Health Pardee announced that all urgent care locations are closed Sunday. Pardee Pain Center will be closed Monday. These practices and facilities will operate on special hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: All physician offices, Pardee Cancer Center, Outpatient Radiology, Lab and Infusion, all UNC Health Pardee business offices. All practices will contact patients to cancel and reschedule appointments. As a reminder, Pardee Hospital and the Emergency Department remain open 24 hours/day. The public is encouraged to check pardeehospital.org and social media channels for additional updates. 

• AdventHealth hospitals remain open and fully operational, including the emergency department, The Baby Place and all inpatient care services. AdventHealth Centra Care Arden on Airport Road is closed through Monday. To further support community access to care, free virtual appointments are being offered to all community members through the AdventHealth website or AdventHealth App using the code word “community.”

Here's the forecast from the National Weather Service:

• Sunday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 7pm. Patchy fog between 11pm and 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest 8 to 13 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
• Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
• Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.
• Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 31.
• Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.