Winter Storm Fern's Impact: WNC Power Outages Reach 8,000+ as Conditions Intensify
The Western North Carolina region is facing a growing crisis as Winter Storm Fern's impact intensifies. After initially reporting a low number of power outages in Asheville, the situation has rapidly worsened, affecting thousands of households, businesses, and schools across the area.
According to outage maps from Duke Energy and French Broad Electric, the number of impacted customers has escalated dramatically. French Broad Electric, serving Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, reported 102 customers without power as of 1:45 p.m. today. Meanwhile, Duke Energy's map paints a more dire picture, with 10,897 outages across the Carolinas, 10,000 of which are concentrated in WNC and Upstate South Carolina.
The hardest-hit areas south and southwest of Asheville include significant clusters around Brevard, Little River, Norton, and Rosman. These areas are experiencing workplace closures and disrupted teacher workdays.
For those affected by outages, French Broad Electric can be contacted at (828) 649-2051 for Madison, (828) 688-4815 for Mitchell, or (828) 682-6121 for Yancey. Duke Energy customers can report outages by dialing +1 (800) 769-3766.
As the storm's impact continues to unfold, the region is bracing for further challenges, with the potential for prolonged outages and disruptions.
