Governor Cooper urges people to stay put as winter weather slams North Carolina

At a press conference Sunday, Governor Cooper said travel is treacherous and power outages are already causing problems across the state. In some counties, 8-12 inches of snow have fallen and many others are seeing ice accumulation. 

“Fewer people on the road means fewer car crashes, plus it allows highway crews and utility workers to get faster results,” Cooper said. “If you must travel, reduce your speed, increase your following distance, and be sure to clear all the snow and ice off your vehicle before traveling.”

The latest travel conditions are available at drivenc.gov. 

As of 11:30 a.m., more than 41,000 homes and businesses reported power outages and Cooper says that number is likely to increase. Cooper asked residents to report any outages to utility companies. 

Some counties have opened or are preparing to open shelters for people who are without power and heat. You can find a listing of open shelters at https://t.co/zZosSg6rcz.

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) January 16, 2022

Cooper also urged North Carolinians to be prepared for outages and practices safety measures, including keeping generators away from open doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, not using gas grills indoors, and not to burn charcoal. He also asked residents not to call 911 unless it is a true emergency. More tips on how to stay safe are available at readync.gov. 

A Winter Weather Warning remains in effect until midnight tonight. Snow is in the forecast for much of the High Country. In the Piedmont, sleet has already mixed in and more is expected, with the possibility of freezing rain. Gusty winds could make power outages likely.