Most Schools On Schedule as Triangle Dodges Winter Weather

As of 6 a.m., schools in Wake, Durham, Cumberland and Orange countieshadnotannounced any schedule changes.

Areas west and north of the Triangle, especially along theVirginiaborder, are receiving freezing rain, causing some school systems todelay or cancel classes.

Nonetheless, drivers are urged to use caution during themorning commute as some bridges may have slick spots.

At 6 a.m., the temperature was 33 degrees at Raleigh-DurhamInternational Airport, and 32 degrees at WRAL. Rain was freezing on treelimbs near the station. However, the mercury is expected to rise and stayabovefreezing through Saturday afternoon, when a strong cold front will pushinto the South, bringing even colder temperatures. Highs are expected tobe only in the 30s on Sunday and Monday.

Joel Cline of the National Weather Service office in Raleigh reported thatthe worst hit areas Thursday morning were in the northwesternmountains. He says Alleghany County is reporting two to three inches oficy precipitation.

Westernmost parts of the state, including Asheville and Hendersonville,also reported accumulations of about an inch offrozen precipitation.

Cline said some southwestern counties had very little accumulation.

In the foothills and central parts, travel was hazardous with some sleetsticking to bridges. Ice was also covering trees andpower lines in places like Winston-Salem and Hickory.

Meanwhile, traffic is reported to be moving normally on Interstate 85 and40 in the Greensboro area.

Person County, near the North Carolina-Virginia border, which usuallysees snow and sleet whenothers areas of the Triangle as just wet, was receiving only rain at 6:30a.m., according to WRAL-TV5's Mark Roberts. Rain was freezing on somepower lines and trees.

The weather picture was much different last year at this time. Winterset in with snow and ice cutting power to ten ofthousands of homes. Governor Jim Huntproclaimed a state of disaster in 70 counties.