Feb 02, 2026
ASHEBORO — Last week, our headline in this space noted the county could exhale as Winter Storm Fern, while leaving us with enough ice to cancel schools for a week, didn’t produce the days-long power outages many feared.
This week, many residents likely chose to inhale after a so-called “bomb cyclone” hit the East Coast with a snow event that delivered on its promise of 7 to 8 inches of snow in our area — and then some in parts of the county. Even though as much as 16 inches fell on the outer western edges of the county (we’re looking at you, Trinity), it was the kind of fine, proper snow that created beautiful images, delicious snow cream and some fun sledding.
The county wasn’t out of danger, of course. Melting snow refreezes at night, making travel (and getting back in school) difficult, especially for those who first had to navigate getting through nearly a foot of the stuff in their driveways just to get on a slippery street. As always in such conditions, folks were urged not to travel unless they absolutely had to…