Weather

Roads clear but some power outages from freezing rain event

A soaking, freezing rain on Thursday morning resulted in far fewer power outages than originally expected.

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WRAL Severe Weather Center

A soaking, freezing rain on Thursday morning resulted in far fewer power outages from the Triangle northward than originally expected.

"Even 1 or 2 degrees makes a big difference with the ability to see some of those raindrops freeze," Gardner said.

Freezing rain began falling as early as 3 a.m. north of the Triangle, and crews in Person and Granville counties reported icicles and a thick glaze on surfaces like tree limbs, street signs and cars. Power lines and tree branches became slightly weighed down by the ice, but weather-related power outages and crashes were minimal.

According to the state Department of Transportation, roads remained wet but clear of ice, even close to the Virginia line. Clusters of power outages were reported in the Triangle and in Winston-Salem, but those were isolated and resolved quickly.

In Person County, where up to half an inch of freezing rain was expected to fall, few to no power outages were reported.

Durham saw heavy downpours at times and more ice than Raleigh, where a very light glaze covered some trees. By 9 a.m., temperatures were above freezing in the Triangle, and Gardner said there would be no more ice accumulation until after midnight.

Freezing rain could fall in areas northwest of Durham throughout the afternoon, but there should be a break in ice accumulation before another round of freezing rain expected to arrive early Friday morning.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for Durham, Orange, Person, Granville, Vance, Warren, Forsyth, Guilford and Alamance counties until 7 a.m. Friday.

Scattered rain is expected to continue all day Thursday and for the first half of Friday, with up to 3 inches possible in some spots, and flash flooding will be possible, especially in counties southeast of the Triangle.

Updates

10:45 a.m.: Power outages are close to 17,000 statewide, many of them in Winston-Salem and the Triad, according to Duke Energy's outage map. Freezing rain continues to fall from Durham northward, but WRAL Elizabeth Gardner said the Triangle should not see any additional ice accumulation until after midnight.

No power outages have been reported in Person County, the area expected to be hit hardest with freezing rain Thursday morning.

10:15 a.m.: A spokesperson from Raleigh-Durham International Airport said the airport has had about 40 flight cancelations Thursday morning due to weather impacts both local and nationwide. Crews have had to de-ice some planes, but there have been no significant delays.

Travelers should check with their individual airlines before heading to the airport to make sure their flight is running on schedule.

9:45 a.m.: Power outages in North Carolina are nearing 10,000, most northwest of the Triangle. WRAL Elizabeth Gardner said Wake and Durham counties should not experience widespread power outages, especially now that temperatures have risen above freezing in the Triangle and ice accumulation should be over until later tonight.
These areas could see a light glazing of ice and isolated power outages.

The WRAL Severe Weather Center is still keeping an eye on counties north of the Triangle, where temperatures are colder and freezing rain continues to build. Person County, which was heavily impacted by last weekend's storm, is still not reporting widespread power outages, but they will be possible throughout the morning.

At 9:30 a.m., the State Department of Transportation had no reports of slick roads in the WRAL viewing area.

9:15 a.m.: While some people north of Raleigh are experiencing freezing rain, others are experiencing thunder and lightning. Numerous WRAL viewers reported strong storms Thursday morning, but WRAL Elizabeth Gardner said severe weather is not expected. Instead, heavy rain could lead to flooding issues by Friday and the weekend.
8:45 a.m.: Residents in Person County, which is often referred to as North Carolina's snow and ice capital, are bracing for more power outages. Officials said widespread power outages have not yet been reported, but people were reporting flickering lights as early as 4:30 a.m.

While roads mainly wet, ice continues to build on power lines and tree limbs in Person County, and officials said the county's emergency services command center was open all night preparing for power outages and storm damage. Some people in Person County just had their power restored after a serious Saturday ice storm.

If more people lose power Thursday, the county is prepared to put people in hotel rooms, and the Salvation Army is ready to hand out blankets and food.

8:30 a.m.: WRAL Brett Knese is in northern Durham, where rain is falling in heavy amounts but ice is still not an issue. While ice accumulation impacts are limited to Thursday and Friday mornings, much of the viewing area could deal with power outages and flooding issues over the next several days.
Here's a look at rainfall estimates for Feb. 18-19, 2021
8:00 a.m.: WRAL Aimee Wilmoth is in Nash County, where the road temperatures is 33 degrees and roads are wet but not icy. In the Triangle, rain is keeping roads wet but ice accumulation is mainly limited to tree branches and other surfaces.

WRAL Elizabeth Gardner said the Triangle should see a break in ice accumulation around lunchtime, when temperatures rise above freezing. However, temperatures will stay cold and scattered showers will continue all afternoon.

"It's going to feel really chilly and really miserable but we should stop the accumulation of ice," Gardner said.

After a break Thursday afternoon and evening, another round ice accumulation is expected between midnight and 4 a.m. on Friday morning.

7:30 a.m.: Frontline workers and power crews are gathering at the Mudcats stadium in Zebulon and are ready to respond to power outages and crashes. Power outages are not yet widespread, with 5,000 across the state, but Duke Energy is anticipating thousands more by Thursday afternoon.
7:05 a.m.: Elizabeth Gardner said road temperatures have dropped below 32 degrees in the Triangle, so drivers from Raleigh to the northwest may notice a light icing on surfaces like bridges. Drivers should use caution, but the biggest impact in the Triangle will be isolated power outages later in the morning as ice accumulates on power lines and trees fall.
Current Temperatures, DMA

When it comes to power outages and downed trees, the worst damage will be in our northern counties, Gardner said. In the Triangle, expect isolated power outages and light icing throughout the day, and areas southeast of Raleigh could eventually experience flooding.

6:45 a.m.: Meredith Archie from Duke Energy said about 4,000 customers across the state are currently without power.
Power outage potential for Feb. 18, 2021

Archie said crews trim trees and branches year-round and check equipment to prepare for storms like this. She expects outages to increase throughout the day as conditions worsen but said crews are ready to respond. People in harder hit areas, most close to the Virginia line, should prepare for the possibility of longer outages.

6:15 a.m.: Sgt. Chris Knox with the State Highway Patrol said at least several weather-related crashes have already been reported across central North Carolina. According to Knox, ice causes problems and crashes quickly, and more troopers are working Thursday in anticipation of a large call volume and numerous crashes.

Knox asked people to stay home if at all possible.

"The only way to prepare [for ice] is to not drive on it," he said. "There is no way to avoid the ice."

The Durham County Sheriff's Office tweeted, "If you're headed out this morning watch out for slick spots on roadways especially around bridges & overpasses. The safest place is home but if you must drive, wear your seat belt, stay below the speed limit, don't get distracted by your phone, & never drive under the influence."

5:45 a.m.: WRAL Brett Knese reported a "very light" glazing on roads in Durham, but widespread travel issues are not yet occurring in the Triangle. WRAL Nia Harden sent in photos of ice-covered tree branches in Oxford, in Granville County, where freezing rain has been building since 3 a.m.
5:15 a.m.: Power outages will probably not be widespread until at least 9 a.m., according to Elizabeth Gardner.

While freezing rain is falling and ice is accumulating north of Raleigh, areas southeast of the Triangle are mainly seeing a heavy rain. Thunderstorms will be possible south of Raleigh on Thursday, but severe storms are not expected.

Rainfall 24 Hours, DMA

Flooding could become an issue by Friday and over the weekend as rain totals reach 3 inches.

4:45 a.m.: Thousands of power outages are expected Thursday from Raleigh northward as ice weighs down power lines and causes trees to fall. Conditions are expected to be worse closer to the Virginia line.

"We expect hours and hours of icing today," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, with most freezing rain expected to fall before lunchtime on Thursday.

4:00 a.m.: Freezing rain was already falling in Person and Granville counties, with colder temperatures creating a light glaze on surfaces like road signs and mailboxes. Freezing rain may not arrive in the Triangle until 7 a.m., but depending on temperatures, it may not have a large impact on roads.

"Typically ice storms in the Triangle don't cause an icy glaze on roads, but they can," said Gardner.

Ice was accumulating on tree branches in Oxford, signaling what could happen to power lines throughout the morning.

Light ice accumulating in Person, Granville counties

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