The City of Asheville is preparing for winter weather expected this weekend by implementing several measures across departments to maintain public safety and critical services. The city has activated its Emergency Operation Plan in response to the forecast.
Residents are asked not to park on roads after 5 p.m. on Friday, January 30. To assist with this, all city-owned parking garages will be open free of charge starting at 10 a.m. on Friday and will resume charging at 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 1. Vehicles parked before that time can exit without paying a fee. For those unable to use off-street parking, the city recommends parking on the same side of the street to help snow plows and treatment vehicles clear roads.
ART bus service will end early on Friday, with last runs beginning at 3 p.m. and service ending at 5 p.m. The city will assess road conditions overnight and share updates about Saturday service as information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to check the Service Alerts section on the city’s website for further updates.
All Asheville Parks & Recreation community centers will close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and remain closed through Sunday, February 1. All programming, including APR Afterschool activities and basketball games, is canceled during this period. Community members are advised to avoid parks during extreme weather for their own safety but should follow winter weather outdoor safety tips if travel through these areas cannot be avoided.
Riverside Cemetery will also be closed on January 31 and February 1 due to anticipated snowfall.
The WNC Nature Center will be closed both Saturday and Sunday as well.
To support unhoused individuals during the cold weather, the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care has activated Code Purple through tomorrow night and expects operations to continue throughout the weekend. “Code Purple and Winter Shelters provide emergency overflow shelter beds with fewer requirements than in typical programming,” according to city officials. “Winter Shelter is available nightly during the winter season, and Code Purple shelter is activated in response to extreme weather or emergency situations.” Those seeking assistance can contact Code Purple Operations Coordinators at (828) 785-4855.
The Asheville Fire Department REST team will provide round-the-clock support for unhoused individuals over the weekend.
Further details about Code Purple shelters are available on the city’s cold weather emergency shelter page.
City crews will continue monitoring conditions throughout the weekend and provide updates as needed.
