Officials Watching Winter Storm Arriving Later this Week

ASHEBORO — After an icy start to the week, officials are monitoring a winter weather system expected to bring snow, ice, power outages and hazardous travel conditions to end the week.

During a scheduled weather briefing earlier today, forecasters with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Raleigh warned that the system is likely to bring snow and ice and create hazardous travel conditions and localized power outages across central North Carolina.

If current forecasts hold, temperatures are expected to dip into the teens Thursday night and remain near freezing on Friday. Light snow may begin Friday afternoon, intensifying during the evening commute. Overnight, as temperatures hover around freezing, the precipitation is predicted to shift into a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The mix is expected to continue into Saturday morning, with icy conditions potentially persisting through Sunday.

In Randolph County, snowfall totals could reach 2 to 3 inches by Saturday morning, according to the NWS. Hazardous travel conditions are expected to begin Friday evening. Sustained cold temperatures could lead to black ice on roadways through Saturday night and Sunday morning. Ice accumulation on trees and power lines may also cause scattered power outages, particularly in areas experiencing prolonged freezing rain.

The NWS advises residents to prepare for changing conditions, noting that while confidence in the forecast has increased, uncertainties remain regarding the exact timing and amounts of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

Locally, Randolph County Emergency Services is preparing for the storm by increasing staff at the 911 call center.

“911 call volume usually increases, so we are going to try to bring in off-duty employees to help answer calls Friday night and Saturday,” Jared Byrd, deputy director of Randolph County Emergency Services, said in an email. “We are also going to try to add another EMS unit Friday night and Saturday if possible since slick roads slow our response and turnaround times.”

Byrd also urged residents to avoid bringing grills or camp stoves indoors for heating purposes and to prepare now by winterizing and protecting exposed water pipes. He encouraged residents to stock up on medication, food, and water for at least 72 hours in case hazardous travel conditions develop.

Additional resources for preparing for winter storms can be found at ReadyNC.gov.

NCDOT has already started applying salt and brine on major routes starting in higher elevations to the north and west of Randolph County which are expected to receive significant snow and ice. State officials are urging residents to avoid travel from Friday evening through Saturday morning unless necessary and to stay informed of updates.