Freezing rains fall in areas north of Interstate 85, while southern areas experience heavy rainfall and even hear some thunder.
Some people might look out the window this morning and think it’s just a typical rain fact, but that assessment may be premature.
“This is a slow-moving event. So in our hectic lives, when we can eat a meal from our phone to our door in less than an hour, everyone thinks everything should happen right now. But Mother Nature has her own timeline, ”said ABC11 meteorologist Don“ Big Weather ”Schwenneker. “That’s why these winter storm warnings go from now until tomorrow morning. It’ll be a while. If you look outside and go, ‘It’s not so bad.’ It’s a multi-hour event. The ice will take a while to form, but I think from 9 to 10 in the morning, especially in the northern counties, we will see this ice formation. “
LIVE LIVE: first ABC11 alert radar
He Winter storm warnings are in effect for counties on Interstate 85 and North. This warning lasts until Friday at 7 a.m., and means these areas could see between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of ice buildup.
By context, less than 0.25 inches of ice can cover tree ends and power lines, in addition to causing some slippery stains on elevated surfaces. With more than 0.25 inches of ice buildup, the ends of the trees begin to fall and break and the roads become icy. This is when electrical outages usually become widespread.
A Winter weather advice is in effect for Chatham, Franklin, Halifax, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Stanly and Wake counties until 7 a.m. Friday. These counties could see less than 0.25 inches of ice buildup.
Freezing rains have been reported this morning as far south as Wake County. So far the ice accumulation has remained confined to elevated surfaces.
However, ice is not the only potential problem with this storm.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all counties south or east of Wake County from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. It is expected to fall between 1 and 2 inches of rain in these areas. That rain will fall on already saturated ground, which is a recipe for flooding.
Another potential problem is the wind. Gusts of 25 to 30 miles per hour have been reported since midnight. These wind conditions will continue throughout the day. This wind along with the ends of the frozen trees could cause trees and power lines to fall.
The rain will last until noon on Thursday night. It will probably drop in the early afternoon and shoot again until the afternoon until Friday.
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Estimated electrical outages
Duke Energy projects that dangerous winter precipitation and strong winds could cause nearly a million power outages (some of several days) as of Thursday in North Carolina and South Carolina, according to the current forecast for the storm.
Duke Energy said it has thousands of employees who support the company’s response, including 5,400 line technicians and vegetation workers. More than 1,300 of these workers come from the service areas of the Midwest and Florida company and other companies that provide assistance.
Governor Cooper declares a state of emergency due to the winter weather
“This icy weather forecast is a real threat to widespread power outages,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “People need to be prepared to stay home and be prepared to lose power for a while, especially in the northern, western and Piedmont counties.”
The governor issued an executive order ahead of inclement weather, declaring a state of emergency and allowing transportation exemptions that allowed utility companies to carry out-of-state repair equipment and gain faster access to communities that have lost power. The governor also authorized the activation of 40 National Guard troops to support the removal of fallen trees and debris.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials warn people not to use gasoline-powered generators or tools, outdoor grills, and enclosed camping stoves. These devices should be used only outdoors and at a minimum distance of 20 feet from windows, doors, and air vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
To maintain security:
- Do not use gasoline-powered tools, generators, or motors indoors or even partially enclosed. Use them outdoors, at a minimum distance of 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents.
- Do not use charcoal grills or propane stoves indoors, even in the fireplace.
- Never use a stove or other gas appliance to heat your home.
- Do not leave your car, truck, or other vehicle in idle, even if the garage door outside is open. Smoke can build up quickly in the garage and living area of the house.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance. Used properly, these detectors can save lives by alerting people to rising levels of carbon monoxide in the home.
- Keep rooms well ventilated.
There is ice on the way: tips for driving in the winter
School closures
Due to the expected time, Wake County Public Schools announced that it has canceled all face-to-face instructions and will move on to remote learning on Thursday, February 18th.
Durham Public Schools facilities will also be closed and distance learning, meal 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 a working day for teachers and there will be no scheduled classes online. DPS will use the accumulated instruction hours to make up for the day.
UNC-Chapel Hill has canceled all classes, both face-to-face and remote, on Thursday.
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