Downtown Murphy and Andrews each had ghost-town vibes this morning ahead of a potentially destructive ice storm predicted for Cherokee County.
“The high-resolution guidance overnight actually lowered ice totals, which is the good news,” the National Weather Service center in Morristown, Tenn., commented this morning. “We are running a handful of degrees warmer currently, though light precipitation will try to chill towns down before the warm air push gets more underway.
“Light snow/sleet/freezing rain will continue to overspread the area through mid-morning, then we'll see how quick we can warm up,” the center commented. “Higher elevations, such as the Plateau down to Signal Mountain, southwest Virginia, far northeast Tennessee remain at the greatest risk for damaging ice accumulations.”
Flurries and light snow was reported in parts of Cherokee County by 10 a.m. Saturday, with temperatures in the mid-30s and the entire county under an ice storm warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Emergency Management report
CHEROKEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STORM INFORMATION UPDATE FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2026 AT 10:00 AM
**Updates on information will be posted twice daily at 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on the Facebook page: Cherokee County, NC Emergency Management**
An ice storm warning issued by the National Weather Service for Cherokee County continues until 7:00 PM on Sunday, 1/25/26.
On Friday, 1/23/26, the County of Cherokee, the Town of Andrews, and the Town of Murphy each issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency.
Several Warming Stations have been identified across Cherokee County to open at 5:00 PM on Saturday, 1/24/26 as weather conditions require. The Warming Stations are intended for short-term use if your heat source is not working or another emergency situation exists. If you must utilize one of the Warming Stations, please bring food, a chair, blankets of a sleeping bag, and other items you will need as accommodations will be quite minimal.
These locations include:
-Cherokee County Detention Center Lobby, 577 Regal Street, Murphy—
CURRENTLY OPEN
-PeachtreeFire/Rescue, 1 Peachtree Firehouse Lane, Murphy-
CURRENTLY OPEN
-Ranger Community Center, 155 Little Ranger Road, Murphy-
CURRENTLY OPEN
-Unaka Community Center, 14945 Joe Brown Highway, Murphy-
NOT OPEN PRESENTLY
The Warming Stations at the Cherokee County Detention Center, Peachtree Fire/Rescue, and Ranger Community Center are currently open as of 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 24.
The Warming Station at Unaka Community Center, and any other stations which may be established, may open at 5:00 PM today if needed based on weather conditions.
Should the need arise, a Red Cross approved Shelter has been identified and work is underway to prepare the site for shelter operation.
Other Warming Stations are being considered and more information on Warming Stations and Shelter operation will be included in later updates.
Current situation reports from Cherokee County Emergency Services, including the Divisions of Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the Fire Marshal, as well as the Cherokee County Sherrie’s Office indicate normal daily operation along with personnel and equipment preparations being made for severe weather operations. The SherIff’s Office reported light snow with no impact to the roadway west of NC Highway 294 prior to 8:00 AM this date.
Bobby Barton, Public Information Officer-Cherokee County Emergency Services