The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Polk County as of late Thursday afternoon, Jan. 5. The watch is for Polk County Friday evening, Jan. 6 through Saturday afternoon, Jan. 7.

According to a notice issued by the Town of Tryon Thursday, models continue to disagree on the exact track of the system as well as precipitation amounts. The National Weather Service has Polk County as receiving between three and five inches of snow.

“That seems to be the consensus,” states Tryon’s report. “However, understand a shift in the track of the storm could drastically increase or decrease total amounts.”

Colder air will push into the area on Saturday as the low pressure system moves away with a cold wave possible on Sunday and Monday.

Temperatures are expected to remain cold so any accumulation of snow will stay on the ground for a few days and as a result, travel conditions should remain treacherous throughout the weekend, according to Tryon’s notice.

The N.C. Department of Transportation began pretreating state roads on Thursday and Tryon Public Works is preparing to clear roads on Saturday morning if needed.

“We encourage you not to travel during this storm,” stated the Town of Tryon’s notice. “Emergency service personnel will be staffing their respective departments to respond to emergencies; however, understand we too must navigate these difficult conditions, meaning emergency help can sometimes be delayed due to road conditions.”

As of Thursday afternoon, no shelters had been opened in the area. If shelters are open, residents will be alerted via the media. Duke Energy is also not expecting any power outages at this time.

For road conditions, residents can call 511, which is the NC 511 travel information line.

The N.C. Highway Patrol also issued a warning on Thursday urging motorists to use caution when traveling through several portions of North Carolina.

“Driving conditions could possibly deteriorate over the weekend, as snowfall is projected to accumulate due to plunging temperatures,” states the highway patrol.

To check the status of road conditions, motorists are asked to go to the Department of Transportation’s website at ncdot.gov/travel/.  Officials are requesting the public to dial 911 and *HP for emergency purposes only. 

For more information, contact Sergeant Michael Baker with the State Highway Patrol’s Public Information Office at 919-733-5027 or email at Michael.D.Baker@ncdps.gov.

Driving Considerations

• Leave early – allow more travel time; expect delays.

• Reduce speed – driving at a lower speed enables the ability to stop and allows for greater reaction time if approaching hazards within the roadway.

• Increase distance between vehicles – it takes significantly longer to stop on snow covered or icy roadways.

• Clear all windows on your vehicle prior to travel – having unobstructed vision is vital to avoid running off of the road or becoming involved in a collision.

• Use headlights

• Use caution on bridges and overpasses as they are susceptible to freezing before roadways.

• Avoid using cruise control – cruise control can cause the vehicle’s wheels to continue turning on a slippery surface when speed needs to be decreased.

Be Prepared

• Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas in the event you are stranded for an extended period of time.

• Charge your cellular phone prior to departure.

• Take a blanket.

• Notify a family member or a friend of your travel plans prior to departure – if your travel is interrupted, someone will know.

Collision Information

• Be patient – weather also limits first responders and increases response time.

• Attempt to move your vehicle out of the roadway if you are involved in a minor, non-injury traffic collision, especially if you are in a dangerous area such as a curve or a blind hill.

• If you find yourself stranded, stay with your vehicle. Motorists who leave their vehicle attempting to obtain assistance could easily succumb to the freezing temperatures.