ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As snow and ice lingered across western Buncombe County on Monday morning, many drivers didn’t turn to official road maps or traffic alerts for guidance. Instead, they opened Facebook.
Dozens of residents used local community groups early Monday to ask a simple question — can I get out? The answers, shared in real time by neighbors already on the roads, painted a picture of icy, uneven and in many cases untreated conditions across Leicester, Sandy Mush, Bear Creek and parts of Weaverville.
Roads in the Fairview area of Buncombe County remain extremely hazardous as snow and ice continue to cover major routes and side roads, according to Fairview Volunteer Fire Department officials.
Firefighters at Fairview Volunteer Fire Department said Charlotte Highway, from the department’s main station to the top of Mine Hole Gap, is slick and ice-covered despite ongoing plowing efforts by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Crews have worked Charlotte Highway throughout the winter weather event, but hard-packed, frozen snow has prevented plows from fully clearing the roadway.
Officials said all side roads in Fairview are also extremely slick. While traffic continues to move, firefighters have responded to multiple motor vehicle crashes and stranded vehicles. Crews were responding to a vehicle stuck on Garren Creek Road between Village Road and Whitaker Road.
The department urged residents to carefully consider whether travel is necessary, warning that icy conditions pose significant risks, especially for drivers unfamiliar with snow and ice or those with worn or non-all-weather tires.
With temperatures below 22 degrees, officials said ice-melt products are ineffective, limiting road treatment options. NCDOT crews continue working to improve conditions as temperatures allow.
Posts from the Leicester Informer group described Jenkins Valley Road as still covered in snow and ice and largely untouched by plows. Others reported similar conditions in Sandy Mush, where roads were described simply as “icy” and “snow covered.”
Drivers also flagged trouble spots, including a shaded curve along Alexander Road between Sluder Branch and Leicester Highway. Around the West Buncombe BP and Gulf stations, residents said roads were drivable early in the morning but remained slick.
On Bear Creek Road, conditions varied by location. Some drivers said travel was possible with caution, while others described the roadway near Martin Branch as spotty and unpredictable. One resident noted they were able to make it to work, underscoring the difficult decisions many faced as businesses reopened.
Further east, drivers warned that melting snow refroze overnight along Newfound Road, creating widespread ice. Several social media users urged others to delay travel until sunlight and warmer temperatures could improve conditions. While Leicester Highway was reported clear in places, secondary roads remained hazardous.
In Weaverville, residents turned to neighborhood pages to ask whether Clarks Chapel Road had been plowed. Responses suggested travel was possible, particularly for vehicles with all-wheel drive, though conditions remained snow-covered.
Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville is mostly clear, but drivers report many back roads are sketchy.
Other social media posts offered a slightly brighter picture for main roads. Robin Banks Mann reported that Pisgah Highway was mostly fine with only a few icy spots, while some backroads remained “a mess.” Residents leaving off Highway 151 shared similar reports: Tonia Breedlove said she made it to Hendersonville Road without trouble, and Beth Cowan Myers noted that the big hill down 151 was clear, though side roads remained hazardous.
Starnes Cove also saw mixed conditions. Malle O’Hheh Aeithalis said snow there was fairly packed down and drivable in a 4WD Jeep around 6 p.m. Sunday, though she cautioned drivers to go very slowly and noted that slushy-looking spots could turn icy as temperatures dropped.
Public safety agencies also used social media to share updates. Broad River Fire & Rescue posted photos around 9 a.m. showing packed ice on NC 9, Shumont Road, Old Fort Road, Morgan Hill Road and Lower Flat Creek Road. The department said N.C. Department of Transportation crews attempted to plow and treat NC 9 earlier in the day, but conditions remained icy.
In the post, firefighters cautioned against unnecessary travel, noting crews were still operating with chains and cables on emergency vehicles. They warned that as sunshine melts the top layer of snow, it could expose slick ice underneath. Unless there is an emergency, the department advised residents it may be safer to wait a day or two as temperatures rise and rain moves into the forecast.
Across the posts, the message was consistent: use caution, avoid unnecessary travel and lean on neighbor-to-neighbor updates as winter conditions persist.
