Ice storm shuts down most of the Blue Ridge Parkway
A storm forecast to bring freezing rain and ice across western North Carolina led the National Park Service to shut down the Blue Ridge Parkway Friday.
All but a few sections of the scenic 469-mile mountain road was closed, according to a real-time map on the parkway status.
“The majority of the parkway is closed this morning due to widespread freezing rain across the NC and VA Blue Ridge. Please plan alternate routes as our crews get out to assess conditions after the sun comes up and temperatures begin to warm,” the Park Service said on Facebook Friday morning.
Some schools in the North Carolina mountains were closed or had delayed opening for the day because of the slick conditions, according to WSOC.
Earlier this month the Park Service shared a photo of the road covered in a sheet of ice as it responded to people complaining about winter weather closures.
“We know it’s frustrating to lose vehicular access to some of your favorite places during the winter months, but understand we do not make these decisions lightly,” the Park Service said on the Blue Ridge Parkway Facebook page.
“Park law enforcement and maintenance work for hours ahead of storms closing roads to secure our popular high elevation areas BEFORE winter weather arrives to keep people safe. Let’s face it, not EVERYONE is prepared with the proper equipment or skills to drive in winter weather conditions and roads go from bad to worse really quickly on the parkway due to elevation, aspect and grade,” the Park Service said.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 8:51 AM with the headline "Ice storm shuts down most of the Blue Ridge Parkway."
