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TRACKING: Black ice causes hazardous driving conditions

By WSOCTV.com News Staff
By WSOCTV.com News Staff

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A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice was swept through the Carolinas on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees and fences and coating roads with a treacherous, frigid glaze.

Winter Storm Warning - until 8 a.m. Monday:

  • Alexander
  • Iredell
  • Catawba
  • Rowan
  • Cleveland
  • Lincoln
  • Gaston
  • Mecklenburg
  • Cabarrus
  • Union
  • York

Winter Storm Warning- until 7 a.m. Monday:

  • Ashe
  • Watauga

Winter Storm Warning- until 6 p.m. Monday:

  • Avery

Winter Storm Warning until 8 a.m. Monday:

  • Caldwell
  • Burke

>> Click here to see photos Channel 9 viewers have shared of the winter weather.

Sunday night's forecast with Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson

Scroll below for the latest winter storm updates:

9:25 p.m.

All outages have been restored as of 5:55 p.m. for Blue Ridge Energy customers.

9 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

More than 1,800 NCDOT employees in 1,200 trucks applied nearly 10,000 tons of salt while plowing essential routes by 3 p.m. Sunday.

6 p.m.

CMPD reports 53 wrecks Sunday.

5:30 p.m.

  • Charlotte Douglas International Airport remains open.
  • Flight cancelations continue throughout this evening and tonight. American Airlines, which operates 90% of CLT flights, has canceled all departing flights today and more than 100 flights for Monday.
  • Travelers are advised to check with their airline for information on cancelations, delays or rebooking before coming to the Airport.

5 p.m.

Huntersville: An emergency shelter is now open at Hopewell High School for anyone needing a warm, safe place. The shelter has heat, power, and basic meals. Pets are allowed.

4:40 p.m. snow totals:

4:15 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

City of Albemarle Waste Management will not have service tomorrow (Monday, January 17th) due to inclement weather. Waste Management plans to resume normal operations Tuesday on a one-day delay.

3:10 p.m.

3 p.m.

Duke Energy reported 10,000 customers were without power in the Charlotte area.

2:18 p.m.

2:14 p.m.

Since midnight, 41 crashes have been reported across the Charlotte area, according to city officials.

2 p.m.

Watch Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson’s latest forecast update below.

2 p.m. Sunday -- Chief meteorologist Steve Udelson's latest forecast update

1:48 p.m.

1:41 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper activated 224 North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers on Saturday to help local authorities’ response to the winter storm.

Soldiers will be staged at NC Guard readiness centers in Raleigh, Morrisville, Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville and North Wilkesboro. Some are also helping State Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation and local authorities as needed.

1: 27 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:08 p.m.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito learned a MEDIC truck was involved in a crash on South Tryon Street near Sandy Porter Road. She said no one was hurt in the crash.

12:52 p.m.

12:22 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

12 p.m. Sunday -- Meteorologists Keith Monday's latest forecast update

12:00 p.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper held a news conference Sunday as North Carolina is hit with snow and ice from the winter storm.

He said as much as 8-12 inches of snow has fallen in some counties, and ice is causing trouble in the central part of the state.

Conditions remain dangerous in many areas, and Cooper reminded people to stay off the roads. There have already been several crashes reported in the Charlotte area alone.

“Fewer people on the road means fewer car crashes, plus it allows highway crews and utility workers to get faster results. 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,” Cooper said.

The governor also said ice and wind have cause power outages across the state. Locally, we haven’t seen too many outages, but more than 41,000 homes and businesses were reported without power statewide as of noon Sunday.

Utility companies continue working to get power back on in impacted areas as soon as possible.

Some counties have also opened or are preparing to open shelters for people who are without power and heat. You can find a listing of open shelters at ReadyNC.gov.

11:47 a.m.

11:38 a.m.

11:25 a.m.

In an updated winter weather advisory, Charlotte Douglas International Airport said the majority of airlines canceled flights Sunday. At this time, the airport remains open.

The airport said its snow teams were activated Saturday night and they have deiced five planes so far.

Currently, two of the airport’s three parallel runways are open.

Roads, overpasses and parking lots at the airport continue to be cleared, and plowing and deicing of the airfield are in progress.

For the latest information on delays and cancellations, click here.

11:18 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

11 a.m. Sunday -- Meteorologist Keith Monday's latest forecast update

10:55 a.m.

Mecklenburg Emergency Medical Services Agency says it has responded to six crashes so far Sunday.

MEDIC is advising drivers to stay off the roads as they are slippery due to freezing rain.

10:51 a.m.

10:14 a.m.

10:06 a.m.

10:02 a.m.

10 a.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

10 a.m. Sunday -- Meteorologist Keith Monday's latest forecast update

9:55 a.m.

9:50 a.m.

The mayor of the City of Newton declared a state of emergency due to the winter weather conditions.

9:09 a.m.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito said ice is starting to stick to trees in Chester County.

9:00 a.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

9 a.m. Sunday -- Meteorologist Keith Monday's latest forecast update

8:50 a.m.

Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura is in Concord with the latest weather conditions.

8:09 a.m.

Meteorologist Ashley Kramlich has the latest inches of snow accumulation across the Charlotte area.

8:00 a.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

8 a.m. Sunday -- Meteorologist Keith Monday's latest forecast update

7:53 a.m.

7:43 a.m.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito is traveling down Interstate 77 and said the road is icy near Exit 160.

7:05 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

Watch Meteorologist Keith Monday’s latest forecast update below.

7 a.m. Sunday -- Meteorologist Keith Monday's latest forecast update

6:55 a.m.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito is tracking weather conditions in Indian Land, South Carolina.

6:07 a.m.

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito is in York County and said roads are starting to get icy.

6:05 a.m.

Snow is picking up in the Charlotte area, with an expected accumulation of 1 to 2 inches.

5:35 a.m.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport has issued a second winter weather advisory for passengers.

The airport remains open, although airlines cancelled over 1,000 flights scheduled for Sunday.

Airport officials said deicing trucks are on standby if needed by the airlines.

The airfield, airport roadways, overpasses, and parking lots were retreated for snow and ice overnight.

They recommend passengers check with their airline for any cancelations or delay before heading to the airport.

5:30 a.m.

Meteorologist Keith Monday said some areas with snowfall are already starting to mix with sleet and freezing rain.

5 a.m.

Our Channel 9 team is LIVE throughout the Carolinas as the winter storm is underway.

Sunday morning winter storm coverage 5 a.m.

4:30 a.m.

Areas of South Carolina are already seeing heavy snowfall. The Charlotte area is seeing light snow mixed with sleet that is expected to change over to ice throughout the morning.

4:15 a.m.

Our winter storm is here and Severe Weather Center 9 said conditions will go downhill quickly this morning. Meteorologists Ashley Kramlich and Keith Monday have the latest update.

4:00 a.m.

Meteorologist Keith Monday gives the latest forecast as snow continues to fall across the state.

Sunday morning winter storm forecast update with Meteorologist Keith Monday

2:30 a.m.

Snow has started to fall. Severe Weather Center 9 will keep us updated as the snow turns to sleet and ice throughout the morning.

SUNDAY OUTLOOK

  • The winter storm is unfolding Sunday morning.
  • Temperatures are going to hover just near freezing throughout the day.
  • Some of that will be freezing rain, not snow, in the Charlotte area.
  • With freezing temperatures, the rain freezes on contact with the ground, creating icy conditions.
  • We could see light snow Sunday evening.
  • The sleet and freezing rain will continue to accumulate through the day and could be as much as a half an inch. This has the possibility to cause widespread damage to trees and powerlines across our area.
  • North of Charlotte, residents can expect higher snow totals, but sleet is likely to still be mixed in.
  • The northern foothills and mountains will have the greatest snow accumulation, possibly as much as six inches.
  • South of Charlotte, an elevated area of warm air will be strong enough to melt the rain as it comes down, only to have it freeze right on the road when it lands. That’s freezing rain and the levels could be extremely high, creating the greatest threat for power outages.
  • By Sunday afternoon, 90% of the roads will be icy. As the afternoon progresses, the roads are expected to be worse.
  • Most of this will come to an end by Sunday evening, but impacts could last several days.
  • Temperatures will not rise above freezing until Monday afternoon.
  • On Monday afternoon, the ice will start to melt.
  • Any ice that doesn’t melt will refreeze Monday night into Tuesday morning.
  • Be prepared for several days of impact!

NCDOT crews get Charlotte area roads ready

NCDOT brought in workers from other departments to be part of the 133 crews using 288 trucks to take care of more than 2,000 miles of roads. They used as much as 125,000 gallons of brine on Charlotte roads Friday.

“Our response may not be as quick as what you’ve seen in the past,” said Jen Thompson, spokesperson for NCDOT. “But we are putting every effort out there and we are putting all available, healthy hands out there to clear the roads and to treat the roads, and we are not going to lessen our efforts until we clear every road.”

Duke Energy estimates 750K customers could lose power - Jan.15

Duke Energy announced Saturday that it estimates 750,000 customers could lose power across the Carolinas due to the winter storm.

Hundreds of utility trucks lined the parking lot at Charlotte Motor Speedway as power crews brace for the worst, while hoping for a different outcome.

The company has more than 10,000 response workers on standby to start restoring power once the weather permits. Crews have also come from different states across the country like Texas, Florida, and Ohio.

McMaster declares State of Emergency- Jan.14

McMaster declared a state of emergency Friday as South Carolina workers spent the day getting state roads ready for the storm -- particularly preparing for ice.

Crews are very concerned about the combination of ice and wind expected to hit many of Channel 9′s South Carolina counties, and they are begging everyone to be prepared.

The state’s Department of Transportation crews have been mixing brine and spent all day Friday spraying it on the roads, hoping to lessen the impact of the storm.

ALSO READ: ‘It was terrible’: Looking back at the ice storm of 2002

Cooper declares State of Emergency- Jan. 13

The governor signed a state of emergency Thursday evening to activate state resources to respond to the storm and to allow for the possibility of Federal reimbursement if the event qualifies.

NCDOT crews and contractor resources have been working to clear roads as fast as possible, but response times are expected to be slower than previous storms due to labor shortages impacting crews spread around the state.

Department of Transportation workers started brining roads Thursday in preparation for the storm.

Transportation officials recommend staying off the roads once travel conditions deteriorate.

Winter Weather Guide:

(WATCH BELOW: Duke Energy estimates 750K customers could lose power across Carolinas due to winter storm)

Duke Energy estimates 750K customers could lose power across Carolinas due to winter storm

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