NC governor warns storm ‘will certainly disrupt your daily life’ as snow begins in Raleigh

Gov. Josh Stein warned North Carolina residents snow and ice “will certainly disrupt your daily life” Wednesday, urging Triangle drivers to stay off the road on the night of a ACC rivalry basketball game.

Forecasters call for 2.5 inches of snow across Raleigh as the winter storm moves through Wednesday and Thursday. Durham could get slightly more; Chapel Hill, a bit less.

Crews from the state Department of Transportation began spreading a salt brine solution on major roads before Wednesday morning and have plows ready to clear roads once the buildup begins.

Icier conditions to the southeast threaten mass power outages.

“This storm will certainly disrupt your daily life,” the governor said in a Wednesday press conference. “Please know that we are using every tool at our disposal to minimize the impact on your and your family.”

DOT officials have asked Triangle residents to gather supplies in advance and stay off the roads once the snow and sleet begin falling, warning of slick conditions and black ice on Friday.

Stein declared a state of emergency Tuesday, noting that 1,500 state employees had spread more than 3 million gallons of brine. He urged motorists to stay off dangerous roads.

“It will be unsafe to drive in many parts of North Carolina,” Stein said, “so please avoid driving unless it’s necessary.”

Still, as of Wednesday morning, the UNC and NC State men’s basketball teams were expected to square off in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m., potentially sending hundreds of fans onto the roads in the middle of the storm.

The decision to cancel the game is up to the schools, spokeswoman Morgan Hopkins said after the press conference. “The Governor is continuing to urge people to take caution if they must be on the road this afternoon and through the evening,” she said.

DOT Secretary Joey Hopkins said he expected many roads to be covered with snow and ice and also urged against travel. Interstates would get priority, he said, followed by U.S. and N.C. routes. Roughly 1,200 crew members are already clearing roads.

“Our crews will be working around the clock,” he said.

Safety tips

As a safety precaution, state officials warned:

▪ to keep phones charged and lamps with battery power;

▪ not to operate generators or gas grills indoors;

▪ not to charge phones in cars inside enclosed spaces;

▪ to check on vulnerable friends and family.

This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 11:52 AM.

Josh Shaffer

The News & Observer

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Josh Shaffer is a general assignment reporter on the watch for “talkers,” which are stories you might discuss around a water cooler. He has worked for The News & Observer since 2004 and writes a column about unusual people and places.