A winter storm making its way through North Carolina has put emergency crews on alert. In anticipation of more serious conditions, including icy roadways in the Triangle area, the State House has canceled its Tuesday session, and Governor Pat McCrory has declared a State of Emergency.
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While meteorologists do not expect the coastal areas to see the treacherous conditions that are likely a bit further inland, Governor McCrory says a difference in a few degrees can change rain to snow or ice, and so everyone should monitor possible forecast changes.
In a press conference Monday, McCrory noted this storm is hitting around the same time as a major ice storm last year.
"Our goal again, like last year, is to be over-prepared and hopefully underwhelmed by this storm. But there is still a lot of uncertainty and conditions will vary across the state from just snow to ice to a combination of the two and rain in other parts of the state."
McCrory says crews have been out all weekend brining roadways and deploying emergency vehicles.
The three biggest concerns for this weather event according to the State’s Emergency Operations Center: power outages, hazardous travel, and extreme cold. So officials advise checking on elderly neighbors, bringing all pets inside, staying off the roadways, and using caution with secondary heating sources.
