Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Forecasted for Buncombe County This Weekend

A stalled front coupled with low-pressure systems moving north through the Mississippi Valley prompted the National Weather Service to issue a weather briefing Jan. 8 predicting a period of heavy rain and gusty winds for Buncombe County heading into the weekend. Cloud cover built Thursday night and light rain was possible near the mountains by early Friday, with rain chances increasing Friday afternoon and evening and heavy rainfall likely late Friday into Saturday across the southern Appalachians.

Asheville-area temperatures on Thursday were expected to remain slightly cooler than recent days but above normal, with highs near 62. Rain was forecast to be likely Friday, mainly after midafternoon, and patchy morning fog could reduce visibility before the heavier precipitation moved in. Forecasters flagged wind as a growing concern: gusty winds were expected to develop early Saturday at higher elevations and strengthen and spread into lower elevations by Sunday, with gusts of 20 mph or higher possible Saturday.

Saturated soils from the anticipated heavy rain elevate the risk of falling tree limbs or uprooted trees, increasing the possibility of isolated power outages across Buncombe County. Such outages could disrupt heating and small-business operations and create additional demand for utility repair crews and county road teams. Travel on mountain roads could become hazardous during periods of heavy rain and gusty wind, particularly overnight and on exposed ridgelines.

Behind the cold front, conditions were forecast to turn windy and noticeably cooler on Sunday, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 44. Overnight lows were expected to drop into the low 20s by Sunday night, raising the potential for icy spots on untreated surfaces if standing water from the storm freezes.

The projected storm carries near-term public-safety and budgetary implications for local government and infrastructure providers. Heavy late-winter rainfall and wind events can drive spikes in emergency call volume, increase costs for tree removal and road repairs, and lead to short-term revenue impacts for downtown retailers if outages or unsafe travel deter customers. For residents reliant on stable power for heating, even isolated outages in January can pose significant hardship.

The National Weather Service advised residents to monitor forecasts and be prepared for changing conditions through the weekend. Local officials and utility providers in Buncombe County will be watching rainfall totals and wind trends closely as crews stand ready to respond to reports of downed trees and service interruptions.