Winter Weather Update – openings, closings & schedule changes

Member for

7 years 9 months
January 30, 2026
  • A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for our area from 4 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday with significant snowfall expected on Saturday.
  • An Extreme Cold Watch is in effect from 1 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.
  • Republic Services is collecting both the Thursday and Friday trash routes today (Friday, Jan. 30). 
  • Republic Services will not attempt to collect the Thursday and Friday recycling routes on Saturday, Jan. 31, as originally announced. Republic Services may employ additional trucks next week to service those routes. Go Wake Forest will suspend service tonight (Friday, Jan. 30) at 9 p.m. until further notice. 
  • All PRCR facilities will be closed Saturday, including Joyner Park Community Center, Flaherty Park Community Center, Alston-Massenburg Center, and Wake Forest Community House.
  • Meals on Wheels will be closed Monday, Feb. 2. 
  • All PRCR Youth Basketball League games scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, have been canceled.
  • Wake Forest Renaissance Centre classes scheduled on Saturday at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging have been canceled and will be rescheduled.
  • For winter weather-related updates, visit http://bit.ly/WFSevereWeatherUpdates.  

 

WAKE FOREST, NC – A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Wake County and much of North Carolina from 4 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Heavy snow is expected with total accumulations between three and seven inches. 

An Extreme Cold Watch is also in effect from 1 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday. Wind chills ranging from below zero to nine degrees are possible.

 

Schedule/Service Changes

  • Republic Services is collecting both the Thursday and Friday trash routes on Friday, Jan. 30. 
  • Weather permitting, Republic Services will collect the Thursday and Friday recycling routes on Saturday, Jan. 31. Wake Forest residents whose recycling collection service day is Thursday or Friday are urged to place their rollout recycling cart at the curb before 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
  • Go Wake Forest will suspend service tonight (Friday, Jan. 30) at 9 p.m. until further notice. Adverse weather and road conditions may impact service hours early next week.
  • All PRCR Youth Basketball League games scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, have been canceled.
  • Wake Forest Renaissance Centre classes scheduled on Saturday at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging have been canceled and will be rescheduled.

Town officials will closely monitor weather conditions over the next several days and, if necessary, announce additional service changes.

 

Openings & Closings

  • All PRCR facilities will be closed Saturday, including Joyner Park Community Center, Flaherty Park Community Center, Alston-Massenburg Center, and Wake Forest Community House.

 

Public Works

Earlier this week, crews applied brine to major Wake Forest roads, bridges, and overpasses. 

Brine is a salt and water mixture. The use of brine uses less salt since it is applied in liquid form, and the salt can begin to work immediately. Unlike rock salt which can roll off or be blown off hard surfaces, brine bonds to the pavement. It is also more effective than solid salt in lower temperatures. Once ice forms on roads, crews spread a mixture of salt and sand to melt the ice.

Wake Forest has over 250 tons of sand/salt mix supply on site, along with eight truck-mounted plows, four spreaders, one backhoe, and one loader available to clear Wake Forest's 156 miles of roads. 

In the event of wintry weather, crews will respond around the clock until the event has ended and roads are safe. Crews clear thoroughfares and primary roads first. Motorists are urged not to park on the street, so plows and other Town equipment can effectively service the area. The Town does not clear school parking lots or private parking lots, including those in apartment and condominium complexes or at businesses.

 

Wake Forest Power

In the event power outages occur, Wake Forest Power crews are prepared and ready to respond. However, restoration efforts may be delayed by hazardous road conditions, meaning some outages could last longer than normal. Still, crews will respond as quickly as is safely possible to get the power back on.

If you lose power

  • Wake Forest Power customers call 919-435-9478 or visit https://bit.ly/WFPowerReportOutage.
  • Wake Electric customers call 855-280-1147.
  • Duke Energy Progress customers call 800-419-6356.

Due to the frigid temperatures forecast over the next several days, Wake Forest Power customers are encouraged to help lower peak electricity demand by reducing their power usage during on-peak hours (6-8 a.m. in the winter). 

Ways to lower peak demand include utilizing smart/programmable thermostats, improving efficiency with LED lighting, and shifting appliance usage to off-peak hours. Major electrical appliances that may contribute to high demand costs include the clothes dryer, water heater, electric range, and oven. Also, make a conscious effort to turn off lights and unplug electronics during on-peak hours. This not only conserves energy but will also help to trim your electricity bill.

 

When to call 911

Residents are reminded not to call 911 unless there is an emergency posing an immediate threat to life, health, or property. Similarly, residents should not report icy road conditions via SeeClickFix. All non-emergency calls, including reports of icy road conditions and immediate needs for service, should be placed to 919-554-6150.

 

Attention Motorists

In the event of wintry weather, motorists are urged to stay off the roads - unless absolutely necessary. When you venture out on the roads, you not only put yourself at risk, but you also put others in jeopardy. Then, if you are involved in an accident, police officers and first responders are at risk. You can help yourself, your neighbors, law enforcement and first responders by simply staying off the roads.

If you must venture out, first remove the ice and snow from your vehicle, particularly from the hood, windows, and roof. Ice and snow that dislodges from a moving vehicle can create hazardous driving conditions for other vehicles resulting in property damage and/or injury. 

Also, while driving, turn on your headlights, and give extra following distance to allow more stopping time on slippery surfaces. 

 

Sidewalk Snow Removal Requirements 
According to Chapter 28, Sec. 28-29 of the Wake Forest Code of Ordinances, “Every occupant of a commercial building, in front of which the sidewalk is paved with stone, brick, asphalt or cement, shall remove snow, ice or other obstructions from such sidewalk at the earliest possible time and as soon as the weather permits.

Cleared sidewalks help ensure pedestrian safety and reduce the need for people to walk in roadways during winter conditions. Community members and businesses are encouraged to clear the full width of sidewalks - not just a shovel path - to allow safe passage for strollers, wheelchairs, and others with mobility needs. All sidewalks touching a property should be cleared in each direction to the street where applicable. When ice is present, salt or sand should be applied to reduce slipping hazards. 

 

Prevent Frozen Pipes 

During periods of extremely cold weather, the Town of Wake Forest and Raleigh Water often field calls from customers reporting broken water pipes. When pipes break between the water meter and the home or within the home, the customer is responsible for repairs. Since Raleigh Water operates and maintains Wake Forest's water and sewer system, it is responsible for repairing any damage to pipes between the water main under the street and the meter, or in the main itself, which rarely happens since water runs continuously in the mains. For more information, call Raleigh Water 919-996-3245. 

Here are some tips to help keep pipes from freezing:

  • Have regular pipe maintenance done - at least once year.
  • Regularly change filters around the house.
  • Drip a faucet so pipes don't burst. (Drip only one faucet in the house. Choose one close to an exterior wall so pipes don't freeze)
  • Open cabinet doors where pipes are so they can feel the heat from the home.
  • Turn off the outdoor sprinkler system.
  • Detach the water hose from the outdoor faucet.

 

Plan Ahead

Take time now to ensure you're ready for adverse winter weather:

  • Be proactive and locate and learn how to use your residence’s master water shut off valve in the event of broken utility pipes.
  • Do not park on streets so that Town equipment can service the area.
  • Be neighborly and check on neighbors to ensure everyone is OK.
  • Stay indoors during severe winter weather. If you do decide to venture out - whether walking or driving - let family, friends, and/or neighbors know when and where you are going so that they can contact emergency officials should you fail to reach your destination. Take a cell phone just in case.

 

Stay Informed

When severe weather occurs, the Town issues regular updates through a variety of means. To stay informed residents can: