CHICAGO (WLS) — Snow could make a mess of Wednesday morning’s commute, as flakes have begun to fall across the Chicago area.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Boone, DeKalb, Kane, Lee, McHenry, Ogle and Winnebago counties until 3 p.m.; eastern Will, Grundy, Kankakee, LaSalle, Livingston, northern Will, southern Cook and southern Will counties until 6 p.m.; central Cook, DuPage, Lake and northern Cook until 9 p.m. and until 1 a.m. EST in Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.
Snow is expected to be steady through the morning, and ease up by mid-afternoon, ABC7 Chicago meteorologist Tracy Butler said.
She forecast 2 to 4 inches total, with up to 5 inches in Indiana.
Temperatures will be in the low- to mid-30s, with poor visibility at times, Butler said.
The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation has deployed over 200 salt spreaders to focus on arterial routes.
Light snow fell in the city about 5 a.m., but it was coming down at a steady clip and accumulating on some surfaces.
Drone captures rare moment moose sheds antlers in forest | VIDEO
Snow was coming down fast in Oak Brook about 5 a.m., and the roads were partially snow-covered.
The main roads were cleared for the most part but were very slick.
Near Roosevelt Road and the Eisenhower Expressway, snow can be seen sticking to the side roads.
It’s melting on the highways, but it’s a slippery mess.
Voting now underway for Chicago’s ‘You Name a Snowplow’ contest
In Forest Park, the snow is accumulating, covering the grass and neighborhoods there.
And in south suburban Minooka, the drive was just treacherous early Wednesday.
Snow plows could also be seen in the suburbs.
Motorists are advised to give them space and slow down.
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MINNEAPOLIS — After a quiet start to the New Year, we jump into our third big storm of the past four weeks — with this one spanning more than two days.
The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning in several south-central Minnesota counties. Much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, is under a winter storm warning.
RELATED: Minnesota School Closings & Delays
Light snow started to fall in the southern metro and down south Monday night, and it will continue overnight, but it won’t advance much farther north until the middle of Tuesday morning.
CBS
Tuesday will be a warmer day, with a high of 32 degrees in the metro. But this will be problematic because it will toy with the phases of precipitation, and create some wet, heavy snow.
The heaviest snowfall will occur Tuesday mid-morning through mid-afternoon. We could see rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour before a lull in the action in the evening. Wind speeds will also be between 10-15 mph, which will cause some blowing snow.
Lighter bands take over Tuesday evening, and it will keep on lightly snowing in the metro through early Thursday, with the day’s high temp dropping into the mid-20s
The metro is expected to get between 6-10 inches of accumulation by Thursday, while areas north and west of the metro could see even more. Parts of southwestern Minnesota could get more than a foot of snow.
Friday’s high temp will only be in the high teens in the metro, but we’ll begin a slow warmup through the weekend, with highs in the upper 20s to start out the work week.
Jeremy Renner critically hurt in snowplow accident
Jeremy Renner critically injured in snowplow accident
00:28
Movie star Jeremy Renner, known for his role as Hawkeye in several Marvel blockbusters, was in critical but stable condition following an accident, his representative confirmed to CBS News. Renner had been plowing snow when he suffered serious injuries, representative Sam Mast said.
“We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today,” Renner’s representative said, confirming that the accident took place in the Reno, Nevada area.
“His family is with him and he is receiving excellent care,” Mast added.
Actor Jeremy Renner on July 19, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.
Jason Merritt/Getty/MIU MIU
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Renner was injured was flown to a local hospital after suffering a “traumatic” injury. He was the only person involved, and the sheriff’s office is investigating.
Renner, 51, has been nominated for two Oscars for his roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.”
He has also appeared as Clint Barton, also known as superhero Hawkeye, in several Marvel films and a recent miniseries.
Renner owns property near Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, an area near Reno, Nevada that has been hit by winter storms, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Massive storms batter California with heavy rain, wind and power outages
02:26
He recently posted on social media about severe weather conditions in the area around Lake Tahoe, which borders California and Nevada and is a world-renowned skiing destination.
On December 13, Renner tweeted a photo of a car buried by snow with the caption “Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke.”
Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke #WinterWonderland pic.twitter.com/6LBG9DsLAU
— Jeremy Renner (@JeremyRenner) December 12, 2022
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Sacramento — Crews in Northern California were still scrambling early Monday to clean up the disastrous effects of record rainfall before another weather system moves in from the Pacific this week. A New Year’s storm brought deadly flooding, high winds and landslides, and a deep layer of heavy snow to some areas, shutting down freeways and stranding drivers.
The immediate concern on Monday morning around Sacramento was breached levees, several of which were threatening to flood more roadways.
Many residents in Sacramento County were already under evacuation orders after the historic rains breached the levees, with authorities warning that the situation remained “incredibly dangerous.”
Massive storms batter California with heavy rain, wind and power outages
02:26
The fear is that swollen rivers could keep rising this week after they overflowed onto nearby roads. First responders rescued at least a dozen people stranded in vehicles over the weekend, with at least one person dying near the town of Wilton after trying to drive through high water.
Neighborhoods across Northern California have been submerged and landslides have blocked roads. Powerful wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour brought trees down on power lines, leaving tens of thousands of people in the dark.
A view of landslide on highway 92 West in San Mateo County, as heavy rains hit the West Coast of California, December 31, 2022.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty
Further south in the San Francisco Bay Area, the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf experienced its wettest day in nearly 30 years, and the Oakland Zoo was set to be closed for at least two weeks after a huge sinkhole collapsed at its entrance.
The atmospheric river brought more than eight feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains, shutting down roads and even closing many ski resorts.
As the system heads east through the Rockies, avalanche warnings were already in effect after one skier was killed near Breckenridge, Colorado, and another avalanche was caught on camera from downtown Telluride over the weekend.
First Alert Weather Day Monday for freezing rain and snow
03:37
There was one glimmer of hope brought by all the extreme weather in California, however: The storm system may have provided some desperately needed replenishment of drought-stricken reservoirs and mountain snowpacks.
But meteorologists said it was too early to determine whether this week’s storms will have any positive lasting impact.
Jonathan Vigliotti
Jonathan Vigliotti is a CBS News correspondent based in Los Angeles. He previously served as a foreign correspondent for the network’s London bureau.
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CHICAGO (WLS) — A winter weather snow storm is moving into the Chicago area Thursday, with several inches of snow forecast along with high winds and dangerous wind chills.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the entire Chicago area and northwest Indiana.
School Closings: See Full List
The warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Thursday until Saturday at 6 a.m. for DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Livingston and McHenry counties. For the rest of the Chicago area, the alert is in effect from noon Thursday until 6 a.m. Saturday, with the alert starting at 3 p.m. for areas in northwest Indiana.
WATCH | Latest 7-day Chicago weather forecast
ABC7 Chicago Meteorologist Tracy Butler said the storm could start moving into the western suburbs by 9 a.m., with the city seeing snow by noon and northwest Indiana by 3 p.m.
Butler said three to six inches of snow are expected from the storm, with higher amounts possible in northwest Indiana. Snow could fall at a rate of as much as an inch an hour Thursday.
Hundreds of flight cancellations at O’Hare, Midway airports from Chicago winter snow storm
One of the main hazards will be blowing snow from high winds. Butler said wind gusts of up to 50 miles-per-hour are possible.
Porter County, Indiana has a Blizzard Warning in effect from 3 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Gov. Eric Holcomb has activated nearly 150 members of the National Guard to help stranded drivers as officials in Indiana and Illinois plead with people to stay off the roads.
Butler said temperatures could drop sharply Thursday, with wind chills well below zero by early Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Cook County says it’s prepared for the snow.
Sixty snow plows are on hand to both salt and clear the roads. Cook County is also deploying about 65 drivers and 16,000 tons of salt is available.
Metra will run a more limited schedule due to the weather but will have extra staffing on hand to battle the elements.
CTA said it will run trains and buses as normal on Thursday and Friday, but warned there could be delays due to the weather. Anyone who may be waiting outside for a bus is advised to bundle up.
ComEd prepares for power outages
ComEd said it is positioning people and equipment to be able to respond quickly to potential power outages.
“We are positioning our people and equipment to respond quickly and safely to any interruptions that result from this snowstorm,” said Terence Donnelly, president and COO of ComEd. “We realize that any interruption is an inconvenience to our customers, especially during the holidays. Avoiding power outages and restoring service quickly is critical. We have strengthened our system over the years to reduce the impacts a storm like this can have on our customers.”
They said they will have more than 1,800 utility workers on the system including 350 line workers from around the country to respond to any potential outages.
ComEd customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information as well as following ComEd on Twitter or on Facebook. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/report or use the ComEd app.
ComEd warns people never to approach a downed power line and not to approach ComEd crews to ask them about restoration times as they may be working on live electrical equipment.
What can I do if my flight is canceled, delayed? How to prepare for likely 2022 holiday travel mess
Hundreds of flights canceled:
Hundreds of flights have been canceled at O’Hare and Midway airports Thursday..
As of 4:30 a.m., 388 flights have been canceled at O’Hare Airport, with 156 flight cancellations at Midway Airport
Blizzard conditions are expected from the plains and the Midwest to the east coast, with high winds and plunging temperatures.
The delays and cancellations is only adding to the chaos at airports packed with holiday travelers.
What can I do if my flight is canceled, delayed? How to prepare for likely 2022 holiday travel mess
The roads will also be busy, as many families travel by car for the holidays.
Storm forces closures for schools and attractions
Christkindlmarket will close early due to the storm. Its downtown Chicago and Aurora locations will reduce their hours and close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, while the Wrigleyville market will be closed all day Thursday. All three markets will be closed Friday.
Lincoln Park Zoo will be closed Friday and Zoo Lights canceled due to the forecasted high winds and frigid temperatures. Anyone with tickets to ZooLights on December 23 should check their emails for more information.
The Adler Planetarium announced it would close Friday and Saturday in anticipation of the storm. It was scheduled to be closed Sunday.
Chicago Public Schools are planning to be open Thursday, but after-school activities are canceled. Friday was already a scheduled day off.
Click here to see a full list of school closures
What are criteria for a blizzard?
In order for a blizzard warning to be issued, the following conditions need to prevail for three hours or longer:
-The storm needs to have sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 miles-per-hour or greater
-Falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile
Stay tuned to ABC7 Eyewitness News and ABC7Chicago.com for the latest forecast and snowfall amounts as the winter storm approaches.
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MINNEAPOLIS — Just as many are preparing to travel to see family during the holidays, the National Weather Service warns that potentially dangerous winter weather could make travel “impossible and life-threatening” starting on Thursday.
The Twin Cities and a good chunk of Wisconsin are under a winter storm warning through noon on Saturday, while northern Minnesota is under a winter weather advisory.
But the greatest concern is the blizzard warning in southwestern Minnesota, which will be in effect for much of Thursday and Friday.
MORE: Snow Emergencies, School Closings & Delays
The storm system will arrive with some light snow during the Wednesday morning commute, with heavier bands of snow falling throughout the day before it begins to taper off in the evening hours.
The snow should reach the metro by about 9 a.m., and it will still be snowing at a pretty good clip during the evening commute. The system will finally exit Minnesota early Thursday morning.
CBS
The most snow will stack up throughout the southern half of the state and the metro, with 4-8 inches expected. Northern Minnesota will likely see 2-3 inches.
Don’t get too hung up on the snow totals: This will be a light, powdery snow that will be very easy to shovel. Thursday morning will be the ideal time to start clearing your walkways and driveways.
Thursday morning will also be the best time to travel, before winds blowing from the northwest pick up speeds between 20-40 mph.
It’s going to be difficult to see just about anything with the whiteout conditions, especially late Thursday night. And that’s when that strong wind will be combining with the cold air – creating feels-like temperatures of minus-30 in the metro from Thursday night into Saturday.
Blowing snow will continue Friday. And now the strong wind combines with the cold air to create dangerous wind chills. Expect a feel factor at times of 30 to 45 degrees below zero.
As we head towards Christmas Day, things will start to settle down, and we will even have a warm-up heading into next week.
CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago weather forecast this week shows a significant winter storm that has the potential to dump upwards of a foot of snow before Christmas.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the entire Chicago area and northwest Indiana from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Saturday.
ABC7 Meteorologist Tracy Butler says some light snow could begin Thursday afternoon, with heaviest snow coming Thursday night into the day on Friday.
High winds and frigid temperatures will also lead to blizzard-like conditions Thursday night into Friday morning.
Butler said the storm could bring a potential of 6 to 12 inches of snow by the weekend, with higher amounts possible further east from lake-effect snow.
WATCH | Latest 7-day Chicago weather forecast
High winds in excess of 55 mph are expected while the heaviest snow is falling, ABC7 Meteorologist Larry Mowry said, adding that he expects the Winter Storm Watch will be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning or Blizzard Warning later in the week.
“The concern will be not only the snow that’s coming down, but the blowing snow, which will reduce visibility,” Mowry said. “And because the winds will be this strong, there is the threat of power outages Thursday night through the day on Friday.”
POLAR PLUNGE | 1st week of winter brings snow and bitterly cold temperatures
Mowry said the heavy snow and high winds will combine to create major travel impacts, with “extremely difficult to impossible travel from Thursday night through the day on Friday.”
Temps will also crash from the teens on Friday to single-digits over the weekend, with the high winds creating dangerously cold conditions. Friday will starts with wind chills as low as -20 and -30, and will stay well below zero through the day, Mowry said.
The forecast for this week has forced many holiday travelers to scramble to change their plans. Most airlines currently have weather waivers in place, which means you can change your flights for free if you have flexible travel plans.
Stay tuned to ABC7 Eyewitness News and ABC7Chicago.com for the latest forecast and snowfall amounts as the winter storm approaches.
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NEW YORK (WABC) — We’re keeping a close eye on a Nor’easter that is set to impact the Tri-State Friday night and Saturday.
The cold is already in place, and a reinforcing shot of arctic air (which includes some light snow) will arrive on Friday, ensuring that the upcoming storm will be a snow event.
The big wildcard is the exact track of the storm, which will have huge ramifications for how much snow and wind we get. A track farther offshore would spare us from the brunt of the storm, while a track closer to the coast could mean near-blizzard conditions over a wide swath of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
A plowable snowfall looks likely along the I-95 corridor including New York City with at least several inches of accumulation.
Latest snowfall projections
In Lee Goldberg’s latest snowfall projections, the best chance of blizzard conditions and a foot or more of snow is from eastern Long Island into southeastern parts of New England.
At the same time, areas well north and west of New York City are likely to get 3 inches of snow or less and could be completely spared as there will be a very sharp cutoff in snowfall totals as you head away from the storm.
The most difficult area to predict snow totals is New York City and areas immediately surrounding it, which could get anywhere from 3-6 inches on the lower end, or 6-12 inches on the higher end.
Lee Goldberg says he could even see scenario where parts of the city could see a big difference in totals depending on the storm’s track, but a foot of snow is unlikely at this time.
Just to the east there could be a lot of heavy banding on Long Island which could see 6-12 inches along with coastal New Jersey.
Meanwhile, snow totals will taper off from Connecticut into the Hudson Valley.
Gusty winds, coastal flooding
Beyond the snow, the eastern end of Long Island could see 50 mph gusts of wind with a potential for moderate coastal flooding.
We’re still a couple of days from the start of the storm, so lots can change between now and then! Keep it tuned to ABC7NY as we track what could be the biggest storm of the winter so far.
WATCH | American or European? The science behind AccuWeather computer modelling
WATCH: Weather Or Not with Lee Goldberg – now available on our connected TV apps for Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Android
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For weather updates wherever you go, please download the AccuWeather app.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The winter storm watch that was issued for much of North Carolina has now been increased to a winter storm warning.
The warning means there is heavy mixed precipitation expected, including snow of up to 2 inches, ice of up to .25 inches and winds gusting as high as 40 miles per hour.
“This is going to start as snow for some, but this is really an ice event,” ABC11 meteorologist Steve Stewart said. “If we get a prolonged ice event, that’s when we can see the power outages, because even if we get a quarter inch of ice, the wind is going to be an issue.”
The warning officially goes into effect at midnight Sunday morning and lasts throughout the entire day.
Good morning. Dry today but not tomorrow! Winter storm Warning for the Triangle and areas north and west. Some snow early but this is more of an ice event and that’s the big concern. Areas in the warning could see enough ice to cause power outages, especially with gusty winds pic.twitter.com/5hrl3QjIdv
— Steve Stewart (@StewartABC11) January 15, 2022
These conditions mean everybody should stay home and stay safe during the storm. Gov. Roy Cooper is scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m. about what state officials are doing to prepare for the storm.
TIMING
Saturday will be cold with highs around 40 degrees and lows overnight dipping well below freezing. Sunday highs will likely not rise out of the 30s.
The winter storm will begin after midnight Saturday into early Sunday morning and last throughout the entire day.
Most places will see snow in the early hours of Sunday morning, but that will then transition into sleet and freezing rain by the mid-morning.
How long that freezing rain lasts before it turns into rain will largely determine how dangerous of a weather event this turns out to be.
“It’s going to be more of a now-casting event during the day tomorrow, because we’re probably going to get some phase shifting going on with our temperatures close to critical,” Stewart said. ABC11’s entire team will be on high alert with live coverage starting at 5 a.m. and lasting as long as it takes to keep you safe. In case you lose power, be sure to charge your devices and have the ABC11 mobile app downloaded.
The freezing rain could last from around 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. If that type of prolonged event does take place, conditions could be quite treacherous.
Ice accumulation could be between a glaze and .35 inches. Typically .25 inches is the threshold for tree branches to snap, but with the added problem of strong winds at the end of the storm, it may not even take that much ice accumulation.
Potential for ice accrual tomorrow, especially in our western counties. Power outages could be an issue. Typically a .25″ of ice is the threshold for problems with broken branches and power outages…we can reach those totals tomorrow but with the added problem of gusty winds. pic.twitter.com/moiT1EyWeP
— Steve Stewart (@StewartABC11) January 15, 2022
Once the transition to rain occurs during the afternoon hours, it will be on top of this layer of ice, which will add to the risk of flooding. Highest ice accumulations likely be north and west of Raleigh. Rain will transition back to a wintry mix Sunday night as the low pressure departs and temps drop below freezing.
Wind gusts of up to 30-35 mph will be possible. Wind chills Saturday will be in the 30s. Wind chills Sunday will be in the teens and even single digits through early afternoon.
Specific timing of when this will happen in your neighborhood of course depends on where in central North Carolina you are located. Areas west and north will keep the snow and freezing rain longer, and thus accumulate more of those potentially dangerous conditions.
WATCH: First Alert to Winter Weather
CONDITIONS
Ice is the biggest threat during this storm. While snow will also likely happen, central North Carolina is in line to get more ice than snow.
Plus, that ice accumulation combined with strong winds on the back end of the storm could create problems for trees–resulting in structural damage and power outages.
GETTING READY: Do you know what you need in case of emergency?
The ice will also likely make road conditions hazardous. Everyone should be prepared to stay in their homes Sunday and potentially even Monday morning.
The farther north and west you live the better chance for some snow accumulation early Sunday, quickly turning to sleet and freezing rain so it won’t last long. pic.twitter.com/ynUzZcoYTC
— Steve Stewart (@StewartABC11) January 15, 2022
The snowfall accumulation will be higher north and west of Wake County, with areas like Person County, Orange County and even parts of Durham County seeing 2-3 inches of snow.
Lee, Wake, Warren, Vance and Granville counties can expect around 1-2 inches of snow accumulation. Areas east and south of that line should expect less than an inch of snow.
Ice accumulation is possible for the entire ABC11 viewing area. Spots around Interstate 85, including Orange and Durham counties could see up to .25 inches of ice buildup.
Other areas may only see .1 of an inch of ice accumulation, but that would still be enough to cause problems on the roads and potentially bring down some trees.
CLOSINGS
Due to the possible inclement weather, some schools and businesses may decide to close. You can check up-to-date closings here.
If you are in charge of closings for a school of business, the only way to report your organization’s closing or delay to ABC11 is by using our online system. The phone system that was used in the past is not operational. Your ID code from the phone system remains the same and it also serves as your Pass Code into the online system. If you would like to register your organization with ABC11, please email the following information to closingcenter@abc11mail.com. Please do not mail closing information to this email address.
Organization Name: Type of Organization: (school, church, business, daycare, government office) Mailing Address: Organization’s Phone Number: Contact Person: Contact’s Email: Contact’s Mobile Phone:
RALEIGH. N.C. (WTVD) — Heavy rain moved through North Carolina ahead of a sharp drop in temperatures, which brought snow to some areas.
As recent as two days ago, North Carolina was dealing with record heat: Raleigh saw a high of 79 and Fayetteville reached 81 on Jan. 1.
Clouds, rain and gusty wind moved in starting Sunday. On Sunday night into Monday, the temperature plummeted.
At 3:30 p.m., Meteorologist Robert Johnson said only snow remains for parts of the Coastal Plain, and the snow will be out of there by 4 p.m. The sun has returned elsewhere and will create a beautiful sunset this evening around 5 p.m. It’s still breezy out there right now but winds will diminish through the night.
The two main concerns for the evening as icy conditions since temperatures will fall into the teens and 20s, and flooding in low-lying areas such as creeks, rivers, streams.
It will be clear and cold tonight with temperatures in the teens and 20s and Tuesday will be sunny but cold with no one breaking out of the 40s.
LIVE RADAR
3:42 p.m. The City of Raleigh’s curbside collection of garbage and recycling will be delayed on Tuesday because of the inclement weather. The potential for overnight freezing and black ice means a later start for crews.
If your regular collection day is Tuesday, please leave your garbage and recycling carts at the curb. Crews will be working through the evening to complete all routes. Regular pickup of garbage and recycling is scheduled to resume Wednesday.
Yard waste collection will be running a day behind the regular schedule for most customers this week. Here is the adjusted schedule:
Tuesday yard waste collection will occur on Wednesday
Wednesday yard waste collection will occur on Thursday
Thursday and Friday yard waste collection will occur on Friday.
For more information, call Customer Care at (919) 996-3245 or visit the City’s website.
3:30 p.m. Wake County has 2,017 customers without power. Durham County has 2,358 and Orange County has 5,673 without electricity. There are still no estimates for restoration.
2:44 p.m. Although the worst of the day trip to winter appears to be over, Gov. Roy Cooper is urging North Carolinians to exercise caution during the rest of the day.
“It’s better to stay off the road right now in many areas, but if you must drive, stay alert, reduce your speed and turn around if you encounter flooded roads,” said Cooper.
Hazardous weather is expected to continue for a few more hours before conditions improve in most areas later this afternoon. Though the threat of severe storms has ended, strong winds and coastal flooding will continue along the coast through tonight. Hazardous driving conditions could redevelop later tonight and Tuesday morning as black ice can form as temperatures will fall well below freezing.
To stay safe during severe weather, stay tuned to your local weather forecast and have a way to receive weather alerts, such as the ABC11 mobile app.
Statewide about 175,000 utility customers were without power at noon, Cooper said.
Guilford, Forsyth and Mecklenburg counties were reporting some of the largest outages.
Snow is on the ground or falling and temperatures are near or below freezing in some western counties and in counties along the Virginia border.
TIMELINE
Heavy rain, flash flooding and lots of lightning and thunder greeted people in central North Carolina when they woke up Monday morning.
The storms dumped several inches of rain in and around the Triangle. The first round of heavy rain pushed north and east of the Triangle by 8 a.m.
Freezing cold air then rushed into the area, dropping temperatures below freezing starting in places near the NC-Virginia border like Roxboro. That’s where the snow started falling first.
Wake County saw the rain stop around 8 a.m. But by 11 a.m. snow had started falling instead.
The snow continued for a couple of hours, mostly ending before 2 p.m. Flurries are still possible here and there for the rest of the day, but the heaviest of the snow is over.
Temperatures will now remain extremely cold. Lows will drop into the low 20s and even some teens overnight. Tuesday the cold will remain, with highs just getting into the mid-40s.
As for travel conditions, the ground temperatures remain quite warm because of the record heat just days ago. So much of the ABC11 viewing area will not be dealing with significant accumulation.
Still, be careful if you must drive. The roads will definitely be slick (possibly even flooded) and could even freeze in elevated areas.
Areas in and around the Triangle will likely not see much accumulation at all. Areas north of Durham could see dusting develop, especially on raised surfaces. Areas around the North Carolina-Virginia border could see an inch or so of accumulation.
POWER OUTAGES
The rain and wind knocked out power to thousands of people in the Triangle.
Duke Energy said the strong wind gusts were the main culprit of the power outages.
“We’ll be working throughout the day, unfortunately, I think to get these outages repaired,” Jeff Brooks said.
ROAD CONDITIONS & STORM DAMAGE
The flash flooding Monday wreaked havoc on roadways.
The roads that did not flood were slick, causing drivers to need to slow down or risk losing control of their vehicles.
First responders across the area worked quickly to respond to traffic problems and to help motorists navigate the conditions.
IMPACT
In preparation for the potential weather, Orange County Schools opted to cancel classes and all school-related activities.
“Due to a high potential for a variety of inclement weather situations, including high winds, sleet and snow, all OCS schools and buildings will be closed Monday, January 3, 2022,” read a statement from the school district.
Remote learning is also canceled for Orange County Schools on Monday.
Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools announced at 5:30 Monday morning that classes would go on as scheduled, but after-school activities would all be canceled Monday. Then at 6 a.m., the school district updated its decision, opting instead to cancel all classes.
Monday, 6 a.m. update: We have a change to announce. CHCCS schools and offices will now be CLOSED on Monday, January 3, 2022. This includes in-person and virtual learning, as well as today’s after-school and extracurricular programs and activities. pic.twitter.com/ozBwC8eq7z
— Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (@chccs) January 3, 2022
Franklin County Schools also decided to cancel classes, citing flash flooding and potential power outages.
See the full school closings list here.
Gov. Roy Cooper issued a statement Sunday afternoon urging North Carolinians to stay aware of the local weather forecast and prepare for any expected conditions.
“It’s important to stay informed of changing weather conditions, and to have a way to receive weather alerts,” Cooper said. “A little preparation before severe or winter weather arrives can help avoid inconveniences and emergencies later.”
