Record Snowfall And Deep Freeze Paralyze North Carolina

North Carolina woke up to a winter wonderland on February 1, 2026, as a powerful snowstorm swept across the state, blanketing communities from the mountains to the coast in thick, dazzling snow. The storm, which began late Friday night and intensified through Saturday, delivered record-breaking snowfall, hazardous road conditions, and a biting cold that shattered temperature records, forcing widespread disruptions to daily life.

According to CBS 17, most areas across central and eastern North Carolina saw at least 2 to 3 inches of snow, with some communities reporting much higher totals. Princeville led the pack with a whopping 10 inches, while Nash, Chatham, and Person counties each received over half a foot. Raleigh itself experienced a late but significant arrival of snow, with Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) recording 2.9 inches—the most snow seen there since December 2018 and enough to break the daily snowfall record for February 1.

Western North Carolina was no exception. As reported by the Citizen-Times, Asheville and the surrounding mountains found themselves under a winter storm warning until 7 a.m. Sunday, February 1. The National Weather Service recorded at least 5 inches of snow in Buncombe County, but some locations, including Yancey and Watauga counties, measured upwards of 14 inches. The snowstorm followed closely on the heels of a previous ice storm, compounding hazards and making travel treacherous.

Travelers faced chaos as the storm’s impact rippled through the state’s transportation networks. RDU saw 178 flights canceled on Saturday and another 74 on Sunday morning, while over a thousand flights were scrapped in Charlotte between Saturday and Sunday. Airport crews worked tirelessly to clear snow from runways, but the sheer volume and ongoing snowfall made for a monumental task. State and local authorities urged residents to stay home if at all possible, as snow and ice rendered roads perilous.

"We strongly encourage you, unless you HAVE to be out, please stay home," the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office told the public on Facebook. The message was echoed by troopers and emergency management across the state, who responded to over a thousand crashes between Saturday and Sunday. In Cabarrus County, a crash involving a car and a tractor-trailer around 4:30 p.m. Saturday led to a backup of 100 vehicles on I-85 near Charlotte. Fortunately, despite the high number of accidents, authorities reported no weather-related fatalities.

Even as plows worked through the night and into Sunday morning, roads remained slick and hazardous. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported that while one lane was open on I-85 and I-40, and major roads like Churton Street, US-70, and NC-54 had been plowed, surfaces were still dangerously slippery. "Even if a plow has gone down the road, it is still covered and very slippery," deputies warned. "On and off ramps to the interstate are the same." Coastal areas weren’t spared either, with NC-12 closed Saturday evening and the Town of Atlantic Beach declaring a State of Emergency.

The extreme cold that accompanied the snow was just as punishing. Wind chills dropped into the single digits and even below zero across much of the state, and Saturday’s high of 26 degrees Fahrenheit in central North Carolina was the coldest for that date on record. In the mountains, the National Weather Service warned of wind chills as low as -22 degrees, with the highest peaks potentially reaching -25 to -30 degrees. Such conditions, the agency cautioned, could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Pets and livestock were also at risk if left unprotected for extended periods.

"The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Pets and livestock will be endangered by extreme cold if left unprotected for extended periods," the National Weather Service forecast stated, as reported by the Citizen-Times.

Life in North Carolina ground to a halt as the storm’s effects piled up. Schools across Asheville, Buncombe, Henderson, Jackson, and Polk counties announced closures or switched to remote learning for Monday, February 2. City and county government offices delayed openings or shut down entirely, including in Asheville and Hendersonville. The Buncombe County Courthouse operated on a delayed schedule, open only for essential operations. Sanitation services in Asheville and Hendersonville were suspended or postponed, and ART bus service in Asheville was halted Sunday, with a tentative resumption scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Healthcare providers also adjusted operations. The Mountain Area Health Education Center closed its offices to in-person appointments on Monday, February 2, shifting to telehealth where possible. Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville kept its emergency department open 24/7, but urgent care and other facilities operated on reduced hours or closed entirely to ensure the safety of staff and patients.

The city of Asheville activated its Emergency Operations Plan, mobilizing crews to maintain critical services and respond to weather-related impacts. The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care implemented Code Purple shelter operations 24 hours a day through February 2, providing a lifeline for unhoused individuals seeking warmth and safety. Outreach teams and local shelters worked around the clock, offering safe spaces for women, men, couples, and people with pets.

Residents were asked to keep parked cars off the roads to allow plows and treatment vehicles to work effectively. City-owned parking garages in Asheville remained open and free through Monday evening. The public was also reminded not to push snow from driveways or parking lots into the street, as this created operational headaches and delayed street clearing.

Nature itself offered a dramatic spectacle: the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers were partially frozen the morning of February 1, with sheets of ice stretching across the water in Asheville’s parks. The phenomenon, while not unprecedented, underscored just how severe this cold snap was compared to typical North Carolina winters.

As the cold persisted, Duke Energy made an urgent plea for energy conservation. With temperatures running 10 to 20 degrees below normal and demand for electricity surging, the company asked customers to reduce energy use from 4 to 10 a.m. Monday to help prevent outages. "We know it’s inconvenient to reduce electric use, but it makes a real difference," said Gerald Wilson, Duke Energy’s vice president of grid operations.

The National Weather Service warned that the risk of infrastructure damage, including burst water pipes, would increase as the cold lingered through Monday afternoon. Residents were told to brace for continued freezing temperatures, with highs in the mountains only reaching the teens Sunday and barely climbing above freezing Monday.

Despite the challenges, North Carolinians found moments of levity and resilience. Residents shared photos of snow-covered porches and creative ice sculptures, while dog walkers and joggers braved the quiet, frozen parks. The storm, though disruptive, also brought communities together—reminding everyone of the power of nature and the importance of looking out for one another in times of adversity.