News

Here are the snow totals

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 28, 2026

Tuxedo claimed best-dressed title with the most snow from the winter storm Saturday and Sunday, measuring 7.5 inches, while Leicester in Buncombe topped all neighboring counties with almost 11 inches.

As expected, a big snowstorm socked the N.C. mountains on Saturday, dumping 5-8 inches of dry fluffy snow across Henderson County. The forecast from the National Weather Service called for a high of 38 Monday and 45 Tuesday with overnight lows of 8 degrees. At 11 a.m. Sunday, 1,535 customers were without power, Duke Energy reported. As of 2:15pm, outages were down to 998. By mid-morning Monday, 2.

Here are snow totals as reported by the National Weather Service office in Greer, S.C.:

• Tuxedo 7.5 inches
• Hendersonville 7.0
• Etowah 6.5
• Flat Rock 5.0

• West Hendersonville 5.0

• Dana 4.5

• Mills River 4.5 
• Bat Cave 4.0
• NNW Etowah 3.5

Buncombe

• Leicester 10.8
• SSW Candler 8.7
• WSW Woodfin 8.2

Polk

• Saluda 6.5

Transylvania

• Brevard 5.5

Faust in Yancey County got 22.5 inches while Mecklenburg County reported 6-12 inches.

Although sunny conditions today should help the dig out, the harsh winter weather of the past 11 days may not be over yet. The forecast calls for a chance of a chance of rain and snow overnight Tuesday followed by a warmup to 45 on Wednesday.

In what he called "the least surprising phone call of your afternoon," schools Superintendent Mark Garrett on Sunday announced a sixth straight snow day.

"While it is too powdery for a good snowman, I am hopeful that our students and families have been able to find a great hill or two to sled down and some hot chocolate to warm back with up after enjoying the outdoors," he said.

It was not a remote learning day, either, for a couple or reasons.

"By designating tomorrow as a no student day, this will allow our teachers an opportunity to update their choice boards for any additional remote learning days that we may need," he said. "Also, since the state only allows five remote learning days per school year, this will allow us flexibility with the remaining two days. Thankfully, we are still in good shape on our instructional hours for this year, meaning that we do not have to worry about adding any student make up days at this time."

In what amounted to Groundhog Day for weather, other snowfall forced closings and schedule adjustments:

• Hendersonville City Manager John Connet announced that city offices and facilities will be closed on Monday. Garbage, recycling and brush collection will NOT be taking place on Monday. Monday pickups will take place on Wednesday.
• Henderson County non-emergency departments will be closed on Monday. The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night and the special called meeting in Bat Cave on Tuesday, Feb. 3, are called off.
• Laurel Park Town Hall is closed.
• Due to winter weather and the hazardous road conditions throughout the region, Pardee Urgent Care Hendersonville and Pardee Urgent Care Mills River are closed. Pardee Urgent Care Pisgah Forest will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Pardee Hospital and the Emergency Department remain open to serve patients and the community 24 hours/day. The public is encouraged to check pardeehospital.org and social media channels for additional updates.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Schools Superintendent Mark Garrett put it in plain terms: The weather did not cooperate Thursday in efforts to clear roads and school driveways and parking lots and as a result, no school Friday, completing a full week of classroom learning lost with more snow days potentially to come next week.

"Well, today’s temperatures topped out just above freezing and persistent cloud cover slowed the melting process in the areas and roads most impacted by the ice storm. While we have seen a little bit of improvement, the thick layers of ice continue to be widespread," Garrett said in a message to students, parents and faculty Thursday afternoon.

"Our Transportation Department has been out checking roads throughout the day, and we have consulted with our partners at Henderson County Emergency Management to get as much information about road conditions around our community, especially the secondary roads that many do not always consider but our buses travel.  Unfortunately, we have determined that far too many routes across all HCPS feeder zones remain too risky for bus travel and high school driver traffic."

So, students, get out your choice boards to complete assignments.

The stubborn winter weather, as Garrett described it, is not getting kinder.

In its weather briefing Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service said that the storm would be earlier and snow would deeper than earlier forecasts. Henderson County is projected to get 6-8 inches of snow.

"Believe us when we say that we are just as frustrated as anyone that we have been unable to get students into school this week, and now it looks like another winter weather system is heading our way and set to arrive tomorrow afternoon," the schools chief siad. "Perhaps it will be in the form of snow so that everyone can play in and enjoy it. Regardless, we hope all of our families stay safe this weekend. We will be in touch again should the additional weather bring additional schedule changes."