Jackson County woke up under a blanket of snow after a winter snow started Friday night, Jan. 30 and continued almost all day on Jan. 31. Many WCU students got their inner children out, spending the day sledding on campus or just enjoying the snow.
According to the National Weather Service, snow is expected to fall all day Saturday, Jan. 31, and should end by night. By Sunday night, temperatures will drop to as low as 9 degrees. Monday, temperatures will rise throughout the day with the high reaching 38 degrees. However, residents are still advised to take caution on the roads on Monday morning due to black ice.
The Jackson County Emergency Weather Management announced Jan. 30 in a post that conditions in the area are poor, with roads covered in snow or ice, and later sent out an advisory on Feb. 1 stating travel should only be limited to emergencies, road crews, and essential work. According to Drive NC, all of Western North Carolina was impacted by the weather storm, and residents are advised to stay home and avoid travel.
Jackson County Public Schools are canceled and so are WCU classes. The University is operating under Condition Level 2 for both the Cullowhee and Biltmore campuses, suspending operations from Saturday Jan. 31, starting at 4 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 2, till the end of the day. An updated announcement will be made by Monday afternoon for the classes on Tuesday. The administration added in an email that if possible, some classes could be moved online depending on instructors.
Cat-Trans services will also not be available.
If travel is necessary, it is advised to drive slowly and keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, and take caution when driving through shaded areas, as there may be ice. For more updates on road conditions visit Drive NC.
