Freezing rain is falling in areas north of Interstate 85, while areas in the south are seeing heavy rain and even hearing some thunder.
Some people may look out the window this morning and think it is just a typical rain event, but that assessment may be premature.
“This is a slow event. So in our busy lives, when we can have a meal delivered from our phone to our door in less than an hour, everyone thinks that everything should happen now. But Mother Nature has her own timeline. , “ABC11 meteorologist Don” Big Weather “, said Schwenneker. “That’s why these winter storm warnings go from now until tomorrow morning. It will take a while. If you’re looking outside and saying, ‘It’s not that bad.’ This is a multi-hour event. It will take a while for the ice to build up, but I think around 9-10 in the morning, especially in northern counties, we will see the ice. “
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THE Winter storm warnings are in effect for counties along Interstate 85 and the north. This warning lasts until Friday at 7 am, and that means these areas can see between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of ice buildup.
For contextual purposes, less than 0.25 inches of ice can cover tree branches and power lines, in addition to causing some slippery spots on elevated surfaces. With more than 0.25 inches of ice accumulation, tree branches start to sag and break and the roads become icy. That’s when power outages tend to become more widespread.
ONE Winter weather warning is in effect for Chatham, Franklin, Halifax, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Stanly and Wake counties until 7am on Friday. These counties could see less than 0.25 inches of ice accumulation.
This morning, there were reports of freezing rain in southern Wake County. The accumulation of ice has so far remained confined to elevated surfaces.
However, ice is not the only potential problem with this storm.
ONE Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all counties in the south or east of Wake County from 10 am today to 7 am on Friday. It is expected that between 1-2 inches of rain will fall in these areas. This rain will fall on already saturated soil, which is a recipe for flooding.
Another potential problem is the wind. Gusts between 25-30 miles per hour have been reported since midnight. These wind conditions will continue throughout the day. This wind, along with frozen tree branches, can result in the fall of trees and power lines.
The rain will last until about 12 hours on Thursday. Then it will probably slow down in the early afternoon and fire back in the late afternoon until Friday.
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Estimated power outages
Duke Energy projects that dangerous winter precipitation and strong winds could cause nearly 1 million power cuts – some lasting several days – starting on Thursday in North Carolina and South Carolina, based on the current storm forecast.
Duke Energy said it has thousands of employees supporting the company’s response, including 5,400 line technicians and vegetation workers. More than 1,300 of these workers are from the company’s service areas in the Midwest and Florida and other companies providing assistance.
Governor Cooper declares state of emergency due to winter weather
“This icy weather forecast is a real threat to widespread power cuts,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “People need to be ready to stay home and prepared to lose power for a while, especially in the northern, western and Piedmont counties.”
The governor issued an executive order ahead of bad weather, declaring a state of emergency and allowing transportation to be waived allowing utility companies to bring in repair teams from outside the state and have faster access to communities that lost power. The governor also authorized the activation of 40 National Guard employees to support the removal of fallen trees and debris.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials are warning people not to use gasoline-powered generators or tools, outdoor grills and camping stoves in confined spaces. These devices should be used only outdoors and at least 6 meters away from windows, doors and air vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
To be safe:
- Do not use tools, generators or gas powered engines in enclosed or even partially enclosed spaces. Use them outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
- Do not use charcoal grills or gas stoves inside the home, even in a fireplace.
- Never use the stove or other gas appliances to heat your home.
- Do not leave your car, truck or other vehicle in the garage, even if the garage door to the outside is open. Smoke can build up quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance. If used correctly, these detectors can save lives by alerting people to rising levels of carbon monoxide in the home.
- Keep rooms well ventilated.
Ice is on its way: winter driving tips
School Closure
Due to the expected time, Wake County Public Schools announced that it has canceled all of its face-to-face classes and will transition to remote learning on Thursday, February 18.
Durham Public Schools The facilities will also be closed and distance learning, food services and face-to-face events will be canceled on Thursday.
Virtual events at the school will also be canceled due to the possibility of power outages. The day will be the teacher’s work day and there will be no online classes scheduled. The DPS will use the accumulated hours of instruction to make up for the day.
UNC-Chapel Hill canceled all classes, both face-to-face and remote, on Thursday.
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