MLILY Mattresses in Asheville, NC

ASHEVILLE — With a weather system bringing freezing rain and ice on its way to the area, much of Western North Carolina is under a winter storm warning or advisory from the National Weather Service Jan. 6.

“Significant icing” is expected for Transylvania and Henderson counties, as well as the mountains in Rutherford and Polk counties, leading to a winter storm warning in effect from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 6, according to NWS.

Total ice accumulations could hit one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch in these areas. These ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible late-night Jan. 5 and into the following day. Power outages and tree damage are likely, the NWS said.

“Precipitation should begin late this evening as a period of sleet, possibly mixed with snow, before changing to freezing rain in the early morning hours Saturday,” the warning said. “The best potential for significant ice accumulation will be generally south of U.S. Highway 64 to the Blue Ridge Escarpment.”

Previous weather alert for Jan. 5-6:Almost 1 inch of snow, freezing rain expected in Asheville Jan. 5-6, weather service says

Buncombe County, including Asheville, and 10 other counties in WNC are under a slightly-less severe winter weather advisory from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 6. Mixed precipitation is expected, with total snow accumulations of up to 1 inch, mostly over the mountains, and with ice accumulations hitting up to two tenths of an inch, according to NWS.

Slippery road conditions and limited visibility is expected. Other counties effected include Avery, Iredell, Davie, Yancey, Mitchell, Catawba, Rowan, Sothern Jackson, Cleveland and Lincoln.

“Precipitation will spread northeast across the region after midnight through the pre-dawn hours,” the advisory said. “Across the mountains, it will begin as a period of sleet and possibly light snow, before changing to freezing rain and rain.”

Freezing rain expected in Asheville

Around midnight tonight, a mix of sleet and rain is supposed to descend on Asheville for an hour or two, which will transition to freezing rain through the pre-dawn hours, according to meteorologist Mike Rehnberg with the National Weather Service.

Asheville could see about .15 inches of ice accumulation with variations locally, Rehnberg said.

"The low for tomorrow morning right around daybreak is going to be about 30 degrees, so I can tell you that with temperatures that are only a little bit below freezing, most of that ice is expected to be confined to elevated surfaces," Rehnberg told the Citizen Times Jan. 5, listing places like powerlines and tree branches as opposed to roadways.

Check if you're winter weather ready:Are you ready for winter weather in Western North Carolina? Here's our checklist

"Since there is going to be wet rain on the ground already before things start freezing and because there's going to be a fairly short period where temperatures are going to be consistently below freezing, it's going to be tough for most roads to get cold enough for ice."

Rehnberg did say that any patchy ice that does occur will likely be in places where air can get underneath driving surfaces, such as bridges and overpasses.

Asheville is forecasted to hit above freezing temperatures between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Jan. 6, with temperatures likely to hit 33 degrees at 8 a.m., according to Rehnberg.

Locations at higher elevations will likely get more ice accumulation, such as Mount Mitchell, projected to get a quarter of an inch, Rehnberg said.

"This is largely going to be an ice event," Rehnberg said. "Some of the far northern mountains, so areas in Avery County, are the only areas that we are currently forecasting measurable snow. Those areas are going to get up to maybe half an inch."

The NWS discourages traveling during this period, particularly in areas under the winter storm warning. But if anyone must hit the roads, they suggest:

Portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway are already closed for snow and ice, including Milepost 344.2 at N.C. 80 through Milepost 367.6 at Stoney Fork Access Road and Milepost 393.6 at Brevard Road/N.C. 191 at the N.C. Arboretum entrance to 458.2 at Heintooga Spur Road near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

More:Western North Carolina hiking: Best winter hiking spots

Though the so-called Asheville commuter zone between Brevard Road at milepost 39 and the Folk Art Center milepost 382 remains open, the parkway frequently closes this time of year even when conditions at lower elevations are mild and pleasant since much of the scenic route is situated at higher elevations.

For a total list of closures visit nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

A Code Purple alert has also been announced for Sunday, Jan. 7 in Asheville and Buncombe County to provide emergency overflow shelter to people experiencing homelessness during extremely cold weather. ABCCM will provide shuttle service with pickups at its Crisis Ministry located at 24 Cumberland Avenue at 4 p.m. Bust transit through ART is also free to Code Purple sites.

Code Purple shelter sites include:

More:New year-round homeless shelter will open in downtown Asheville; 20 beds bound for AHOPE

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Winter weather warnings and advisories are issued for parts of Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina ahead of possible icy conditions this weekend.

WLOS

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Transylvania and Henderson counties and the mountains of Rutherford and Polk counties. This includes the cities of Brevard, Cedar Mountain, Little River, Hendersonville, Fletcher, Dana, East Flat Rock, Tuxedo, Etowah, Chimney Rock State Park, and Saluda.

NEWS 13 WEATHER

NWS says significant icing is expected, with total ice accumulations of one-tenth to three-tenths of an inch.

Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice, and travel could be nearly impossible.

Precipitation should begin late Friday evening as a period of sleet, possibly mixed with snow, before changing to freezing rain on Saturday morning. The best potential for significant ice accumulation will be generally south of US Highway 64 to the Blue Ridge Escarpment.

NEWS 13 TRAFFIC MAP

A Winter Storm Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected. Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible late tonight and early Saturday.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, for Avery, Iredell, Davie, Yancey, Mitchell, Buncombe, Catawba, Rowan, Southern Jackson, Cleveland, Lincoln counties and the mountains of Pickens and Greenville counties.

For those under the advisory, a mix of sleet, snow, freezing rain, and rain is expected.

Total snow accumulations of up to one inch, mainly over the mountains, and ice accumulations of up to two-tenths of an inch are possible, according to the NWS.

CLOSINGS & DELAYS

Precipitation will spread northeast across the region after midnight through the pre-dawn hours. Across the mountains, it will begin as a period of sleet and possibly light snow before changing to freezing rain and rain.

Showers will dry up Saturday afternoon, with highs reaching the low 40s.

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The FAA said a Diamond DA-40 crashed onto the interstate near the Asheville airport in North Carolina.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary investigation report after a small plane crashed on Interstate 26 near Asheville in December, injuring a flight instructor and student pilot.

The plane took off from Knoxville and was heading back to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. According to the NTSB report, the flight instructor and pilot were flying a cross-country night flight when they felt the plane "shudder" and lose engine power. The NTSB said the flight instructor took control and tried to restart the engine, which did restart briefly but lost power again a few moments later.

The aircraft began to fill up with smoke before the engine lost power a final time, and the flight instructor then made a "forced landing" on the interstate. The NTSB said the plane hit an energized power line right before hitting the ground and catching fire.

The flight instructor suffered minor injuries and the student pilot was seriously injured, according to the report.

The NTSB said the wreckage was recovered and examined, where they discovered a connecting rod had separated from the engine. The plane, a Diamond Aircraft DA-40 NG, was relatively new and had flown a total of 95 flight hours. The NTSB said the plane received its airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration on Sept. 25, 2023, and had recently received its 100-hour maintenance inspection a few days before the crash on Dec. 9.

According to Flightaware.com, the plane took off from Knoxville Downtown Island Home the night of Dec. 14 around 7:30 p.m. before it lost power and began gliding northwest of Asheville around 8:15 p.m.

The plane appeared to have briefly stopped in Knoxville that day after flying from Myrtle Beach. The plane was flying primarily in Myrtle Beach over the past month, according to its previous tracked flights.

A spokesperson for LIFT Academy, the flight school that was operating the aircraft, sent a statement to WLOS praising the flight instructor and student for their composure.

"On Thursday evening, one of our LIFT training flights made an emergency landing on a highway near Asheville, North Carolina. Our certificated flight instructor used their training and experience to land the aircraft without serious injury to themselves or any injury to persons on the ground. We are proud of the skill and composure our pilot and flight student demonstrated throughout the event and grateful to the first responders who attended to the scene to aid our pilots and secure the site," the academy said.

Audio between the pilot and Asheville Regional Airport showed the pilot remained calm even as smoke began filling his aircraft after losing electric power and hearing loud bangs. The audio was pulled from tower recordings on LiveATC.Net.

"Mayday, mayday, we've got oil pressure failure and looks like two ECU failures. We're coming in," the pilot said. "We're losing all electric power."

The pilot told the tower the plane was on its best gliding path without power roughly 4 to 5 miles away from the airport.

"Honestly, with our best glide, we're probably not going to make it," the pilot said.

A few moments later the pilot called the tower to let them know they were able to briefly restart the engine, but said they heard a "big bang." The pilot said he was trying to regain some altitude, but said smoke was starting to fill the plane before losing engine power again.

"We're in glide... we're probably going to have to put it down on the freeway it looks like," the pilot said.

The tower lost contact with the plane a few moments later after they called to let them know they were about to attempt to land the plane on I-26. Emergency ground crews arriving at the crash site called minutes later to report that the plane was on fire.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the two people inside the plane were able to escape before the plane caught fire, according to WLOS in Asheville. Troopers said the plane hit power lines that cross I-26 and one of its wings hit a semi-truck.

The two onboard the plane were taken to Mission Hospital with injuries that weren't life-threatening, according to WLOS.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane went down onto I-26 at around 8:15 p.m. It said the plane was a single-engine Diamond DA-40. The plane was registered to Diamond Aircraft Sales USA, Inc. and was being operated by Lift Training Academy, according to the FAA.

The FAA posted a preliminary report on the crash, calling it an accident and saying the plane was destroyed.

I-26 was shut down for hours as emergency crews responded. NCDOT said the road reopened the next day around 9:30 a.m., and one westbound lane remained closed for pavement repairs.

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What’s everyone talking about? While the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the “it” places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. Folks are asking, “Have you been yet?” Try one of these newbies today.

December 2023: Cassia, Sweets & SeatsNovember 2023: Laila, Golden Hour and the RoofOctober 2023: Avenue M, Mother Cafe, the West End Bakery September 2023: The Restoration, Botiwalla

Read More

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Owen and Mindi McGlynn of Grove Arcade restaurant Asheville Proper opened their second restaurant, Little D’s, with an emphasis on small plates and seasonal produce. Current dishes include crispy pork belly with cider maple glazed Brussels, scallops with mushroom risotto, and sweet potato gnocchi with bacon jam.

Located in a former Greyhound bus station, the Hound comes from Zambra owner Peter Montague and the Copper Crown owner Adam Bannasch. The East Asheville lounge offers an extensive cocktail list, along with a list of snacks like boquerones or duck pastrami on rye. For more substantial meals, guest food trucks and chefs show up with various cuisines (watch Instagram for details).

Have a seat and a sweet at the darling new woman-owned shop Sweets & Seats in downtown Asheville. Daily treats include coffee, espresso, tea, bubble tea, shaved ice with toppings, pastries, cake, cheesecake, and creme brulee. Have one macaron, a box of seasonal macarons, or special order a six-tier macaron tower.

Barbie pink paints the street-side window frame of Laila, the new Indian restaurant that has filled the prime downtown space unexpectedly vacated by Holeman & Finch in April. The owners — who also run the popular Andaaz in Biltmore Village — have razzle-dazzled the former new South country club cushiness interiors with vibrant colors, eye-catching art, and a menu that pops with dishes showcasing the coastal regions of the vast country of India.

A century-old former cereal factory in the RAD — Asheville’s funky River Arts District — has been reclaimed and reimagined into the Radical boutique hotel with food and beverage destinations conceived by visionary chef/restaurateur Jacob Sessoms (Table and All Day Darling). Golden Hour’s wood-fired menu sources heavily from local farms for produce and proteins. Overlooking the French Broad River, the Roof proves there are never too many rooftop bars in Asheville, Land of the Sky.

Baker Heidi Bass’s focaccia built a fervent following in Asheville, taking her from front porch pop-ups to a storefront bakery and wine shop (with partner Brett Watson) in the River Arts District in 2022. Mother’s charming new eat-and-drink in cafe expands their operations to plates, toasts, sandwiches— the classic jambon beurre baguette is a mainstay — sweets, wine by the glass, and breads by the loaf.

West Asheville mainstay Tastee Diner finds new owners with former Jargon chef Steve Goff and partner Sam Goff. They still serve comfort food, but now it’s a bit more interesting, like Slim Jim dip, roasted bone marrow with okonomiyaki, or a giant smoked bologna stack with whipped pimento cheese. Tastee serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A West Asheville favorite since it opened in 2001, in recent years the purple-painted neighborhood landmark has gone through multiple hands and reinventions. Since taking over the business in 2023, Stephanie Hand and Donnie Hutchins have staged a successful comeback, fueled by the return of the giant cinnamon roll and a seemingly infinite number of doughnut flavors — dirty chai, coconut, s’mores, and strawberry among them. The cafe menu offers breakfast and lunch.

Cassia is the national tree and flower of Thailand, and it’s the name of chef/partners Madeline Redo and Trevor Musick’s Thai pop-up operating at Cellarest Beer Project. Before moving to Asheville, the couple spent a few months in Thailand diving deep into the cuisine. Cassia’s new food trailer will operate Fridays through Sundays, this winter. Local sweet potato firecrackers (the vegan version of the firecracker shrimp spring roll), taro fritters, smoked trout fried rice, and curry of the week are popular menu items.

The team behind popular Indian restaurant Chai Pani has opened street food cafe Botiwalla in West Asheville. Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, the new spot offers many of the same flavors of Chai Pani, but in a family-friendly, fast-casual setting. Look for okra fries, lamb sliders, Desi salads, and grilled hot buttered naan wrapped around chicken tikka, malai chicken tikka, boti lamb kofta balls, or paneer tikka.

Owen and Mindi McGlynn of Grove Arcade restaurant Asheville Proper opened their second restaurant, Little D’s, with an emphasis on small plates and seasonal produce. Current dishes include crispy pork belly with cider maple glazed Brussels, scallops with mushroom risotto, and sweet potato gnocchi with bacon jam.

Located in a former Greyhound bus station, the Hound comes from Zambra owner Peter Montague and the Copper Crown owner Adam Bannasch. The East Asheville lounge offers an extensive cocktail list, along with a list of snacks like boquerones or duck pastrami on rye. For more substantial meals, guest food trucks and chefs show up with various cuisines (watch Instagram for details).

Have a seat and a sweet at the darling new woman-owned shop Sweets & Seats in downtown Asheville. Daily treats include coffee, espresso, tea, bubble tea, shaved ice with toppings, pastries, cake, cheesecake, and creme brulee. Have one macaron, a box of seasonal macarons, or special order a six-tier macaron tower.

Barbie pink paints the street-side window frame of Laila, the new Indian restaurant that has filled the prime downtown space unexpectedly vacated by Holeman & Finch in April. The owners — who also run the popular Andaaz in Biltmore Village — have razzle-dazzled the former new South country club cushiness interiors with vibrant colors, eye-catching art, and a menu that pops with dishes showcasing the coastal regions of the vast country of India.

A century-old former cereal factory in the RAD — Asheville’s funky River Arts District — has been reclaimed and reimagined into the Radical boutique hotel with food and beverage destinations conceived by visionary chef/restaurateur Jacob Sessoms (Table and All Day Darling). Golden Hour’s wood-fired menu sources heavily from local farms for produce and proteins. Overlooking the French Broad River, the Roof proves there are never too many rooftop bars in Asheville, Land of the Sky.

Baker Heidi Bass’s focaccia built a fervent following in Asheville, taking her from front porch pop-ups to a storefront bakery and wine shop (with partner Brett Watson) in the River Arts District in 2022. Mother’s charming new eat-and-drink in cafe expands their operations to plates, toasts, sandwiches— the classic jambon beurre baguette is a mainstay — sweets, wine by the glass, and breads by the loaf.

West Asheville mainstay Tastee Diner finds new owners with former Jargon chef Steve Goff and partner Sam Goff. They still serve comfort food, but now it’s a bit more interesting, like Slim Jim dip, roasted bone marrow with okonomiyaki, or a giant smoked bologna stack with whipped pimento cheese. Tastee serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A West Asheville favorite since it opened in 2001, in recent years the purple-painted neighborhood landmark has gone through multiple hands and reinventions. Since taking over the business in 2023, Stephanie Hand and Donnie Hutchins have staged a successful comeback, fueled by the return of the giant cinnamon roll and a seemingly infinite number of doughnut flavors — dirty chai, coconut, s’mores, and strawberry among them. The cafe menu offers breakfast and lunch.

Cassia is the national tree and flower of Thailand, and it’s the name of chef/partners Madeline Redo and Trevor Musick’s Thai pop-up operating at Cellarest Beer Project. Before moving to Asheville, the couple spent a few months in Thailand diving deep into the cuisine. Cassia’s new food trailer will operate Fridays through Sundays, this winter. Local sweet potato firecrackers (the vegan version of the firecracker shrimp spring roll), taro fritters, smoked trout fried rice, and curry of the week are popular menu items.

The team behind popular Indian restaurant Chai Pani has opened street food cafe Botiwalla in West Asheville. Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, the new spot offers many of the same flavors of Chai Pani, but in a family-friendly, fast-casual setting. Look for okra fries, lamb sliders, Desi salads, and grilled hot buttered naan wrapped around chicken tikka, malai chicken tikka, boti lamb kofta balls, or paneer tikka.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A Weather Warn Day is issued for Saturday due to a weather system that could bring a mix of rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain to parts of the mountains.

A storm system that will tap into Gulf moisture will have just enough cold air to produce some light wintry weather across Western North Carolina, starting Friday night, Jan. 5, and ending Saturday.

WLOS

Friday is expected to be the last quiet day before the active pattern moves in over the next several days. High temperatures will climb to the lower 40s for the end of the week.

NEWS 13 WEATHER

A mixed bag of moisture is expected to arrive late Friday night, bringing precipitation through Saturday morning. Many will experience cold rain throughout the storm, but there will be pockets of freezing rain, sleet and even snow before a transition to all rain occurs into Saturday morning.

The worst-case scenario is that icing continues well past sunrise Saturday in pockets east and northeast of Asheville. This could lead to some scattered power outages and difficult travel. Those who can should avoid travelling before sunrise on Saturday.

The moisture moves out quickly after sunrise Saturday, and most areas will be dry by lunchtime, if not sooner.

Remember, elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses are more likely to ice over.

CLOSINGS & DELAYS

Between Friday night and Saturday morning, the most significant potential for snow will be across the higher elevations above 3,500 feet, where 1-3 inches could fall.

Some minor snow or sleet accumulation is possible in the valleys, including Asheville.

Ice will be the bigger concern for areas south and east of Asheville, including along the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Ice could form on elevated surfaces, including some bridges and overpasses.

On the back side of the system, a northwest flow could fire up some snow showers by Sunday morning, Jan. 7. This will favor areas near the Tennessee state line. Accumulation will be possible, but as of now, it looks minor.

Another soaking rain is likely early next week. However, temperatures will be warm enough to keep moisture as rain.