Editor’s Note: This story is updated with the latest closures and changes through Tuesday, Jan. 27

Frigid temperatures mixed with precipitation from Winter Storm Fern has led to much of North Carolina sheltering and staying over the weekend and to start this week. To help encourage that — and to allow some of its staff either stay home or address adverse conditions — many of the local governments in Orange and Chatham counties are altering their operations.

As the storm advanced, town and county governments shared not only how residents can stay safe, but what facilities and services would not be available during the weekend and to start the week. Here is the list of what has changed:

Orange County

Due to the adverse road conditions for visitors and staff, the Orange County government said all administrative offices closed for Monday, Jan. 26 and will open at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The closure and delayed opening also affects facilities and amenities like:

  • All five of the Orange County government’s Solid Waste and Recycling Centers
  • Both the Orange County Library main branch in Hillsborough and the southern branch in Carrboro
  • Both the Seymour Senior Center and Passmore Senior Center
  • Blackwood Farm Park and Little River Regional Park are all closed for Monday.

Additionally, Orange County Solid Waste encouraged curbside recycling customers to still put their carts outside and said crews will collect them as road conditions permit.

The District 15B court system, which covers Orange and Chatham counties, will also be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Town of Chapel Hill

The Town of Chapel Hill suspended several services at the on-set of the winter weather, but extended several closures on Sunday to Monday. Some of those return on Tuesday, while others will remain closed or impacted.

Residential and commercial trash collection is cancelled for Tuesday, with crews collected Monday’s residential trash on Wednesday, Jan. 28 and Tuesday’s residential trash on Thursday, Jan. 29. Commercial trash collection will similarly happen later in the week.

After being canceled for Sunday and Monday, Chapel Hill Transit will return some routes to the roads on Tuesday starting at 10 a.m. The CCX, FCX, JFX and 420 routes, however, will remain inactive. The transit system encouraged riders to dress warmly while waiting for buses, which could take longer than normal to reach stops because of slick routes.

The Chapel Hill Public Library, as well as the town’s parks and recreation facilities, is scheduled to open at 12 p.m. The library will be open until 5 p.m., while parks and rec facilities will be open to 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Chapel Hill town hall and housing office will both remain closed through Tuesday.

Town of Carrboro

Through at least 7 p.m. on Monday, the Town of Carrboro is using the municipal lot on the corner of North Greensboro Street and Weaver Street for staging its Public Works vehicles used for clearing and de-icing roads. Public Works staff is staged in the nearby Century Center for storm operations, making both the parking lot and Century Center closed for public use.

As town crews work on the roads, Carrboro asked residents and visitors to not park vehicles on the streets and to not pass vehicles plowing snow or spreading brine.

Additionally, town offices are closed for Monday and will operate on a three-hour delay for Tuesday.

Town of Hillsborough

The Town of Hillsborough closed its town offices for both Monday and Tuesday. With those facilities unavailable, it meant the town’s Board of Commissioners meeting set for Monday was also canceled.

Residential trash pickup for Monday is also postponed, with crews planning to attempt pick-ups on Tuesday as the weather and road conditions permit.

All town parks and greenways in Hillsborough closed to public access starting afternoon Friday out of an abundance of caution. The local government said for updates throughout inclement winter weather, visit Hillsborough’s dedicated webpage for Emergency Updates.

Town of Pittsboro

All of Pittsboro’s parks and their public restroom facilities closed on Saturday in advance of the storm, with the town government telling residents they will remain closed until further notice. The decision included the postponement of a groundbreaking for the new Lewis Freeman on Rectory Street. Additionally, the town’s waste collection will be delayed by one day the week of Jan. 26 as its contractor, GFL, will be closed on Monday from the winter weather.

Chatham County Government

After the Chatham County government declared a state of emergency on Friday before Winter Storm Fern arrived, its county offices as well as the county’s waste collection centers, libraries and parks closed early and remained closed on Monday. All offices and facilities will return later on Tuesday morning than normal (10 a.m.)

Both Orange and Chatham Counties are part of a winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service thanks to Winter Storm Fern. Heading into the weekend, forecasts indicated a multi-day winter weather event, with high chances of poor road conditions and widespread power outages from ice accumulation. The primary band of snow is north of both counties, but the region could see freezing rain, sleet and ice throughout Sunday, Jan. 25. As of Sunday afternoon, the winter storm warning is set to last through 1 p.m. on Monday according to the National Weather Service.

Other Notable Closures

  • Carolina Dialysis Center in Carrboro will be closed on Monday and will have a delayed opening on Tuesday, welcoming patients at 9 a.m. Those needing treatment can contact Fresenius Medical Care in Raleigh, which has a 24-hour Patient Emergency Line to call (1‑800‑626‑1297).
  • Most UNC Health Urgent Care and outpatient clinics across the state and in the Triangle are closed for Sunday and Monday. See which clinics are impacted by the weather on UNC Health’s website.
  • In addition to holding remote learning days, the local school districts closed their campuses and facilities to students and families for Monday.

Find a list of safety resources, local emergency services, shelter options and more on Chapelboro. Ready.gov, a website through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also offers several safety tips for staying warm, keeping power, and enduring inclement winter weather. More information can be found here.

Featured photo via Maggie Funkhouser/Town of Carrboro.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Our Town: The Story of Community Policing in Chapel Hill
This month, Chapel Hill Crisis Unit Supervisor Sarah Belcher and Chapel Hill Police Officer Tony Jeffreys tell the story of Community Policing in Chapel Hill.
Our Town: The Story of Vision Zero
The Town of Chapel Hill in collaboration with 97.9 The Hill & Chapelboro.com present “Our Town: Stories of Chapel Hill.” Each month you’ll hear from the people at the heart of your local government who are learning, serving, and working together to build a community where people thrive. This month, Bergen Watterson and Kurt Stolka from the Office of Mobility and Greenways tell the story of Vision Zero.
Chapel Hill Announces Brief Closure for Trail, Gymnasiums
Some of Chapel Hill’s community resources will be briefly off-limits this week due to temporary closures, according to the town. The local government shared alerts to residents saying the Chapel Hill Community Center’s gymnasium and pool, the Hargraves Community Center’s gymnasium and Tanyard Branch Trail will all experience limited-to-no access at points the week of […]
Hundreds of Chapel Hill, Carrboro Residents Gather for Juneteenth Event
Hundreds of Chapel Hill and Carrboro community members gathered at the Hargraves Community Center Sunday afternoon for a Juneteenth celebration. The event, which highlighted local Black culture, business and history, marked the first full-scale, town-sponsored Juneteenth event since the local governments formally recognized June 19 as an official holiday. The hundreds of people walking around […]
Our Town: The Story of Ted Voorhees, Chapel Hill Town Manager
The Town of Chapel Hill in collaboration with 97.9 The Hill WCHL & Chapelboro.com present “Our Town: Stories of Chapel Hill.” Each month you’ll hear from the people at the heart of your local government who are learning, serving, and working together to build a community where people thrive. This month, Ted Voorhees reflects on his first six months serving as town manager; and tells the story of why he chose to come to Chapel Hill. 
OWASA Sets Date for Full Closure of W. Rosemary Street. Here's What You Need to Know
As part of an extensive water main replacement by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority, part of West Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill is set to close to all traffic in the coming weeks.
Chapel Hill Passes Amendments to LUMO, Plans to Expand Missing Middle Housing in Town
Chapel Hill recently passed amendments to its Land Use Management Ordinance that could make it easier to expand housing options in town.
Orange County Governments Share Service Delays, Facility Closures Following Weekend Snow
Following inches of snow, local governments in Orange and Chatham counties alerted residents to how their operations are affected for Monday and Tuesday.
Here Are Winter Storm Resources in Orange County During Cold and Snowy Weather
With a massive winter storm forecasted, many in Orange County are preparing for frigid temperatures. Here are key resources to stay safe.
Local Government Closures, Service Changes Carry Over Into Tuesday from Adverse Conditions
Editor’s Note: This story is updated with the latest closures and changes through Tuesday, Jan. 27 Frigid temperatures mixed with precipitation from Winter Storm Fern has led to much of North Carolina sheltering and staying over the weekend and to start this week. To help encourage that — and to allow some of its staff […]
›