Snow inland, not along coast

Published 11:26 pm Friday, February 21, 2020

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Overnight Thursday, snow arrived in portions of northeast North Carolina, but the winter weather was not over.

On Hatteras Island Friday morning, only a brief, very brief flurry of snow visited Rodanthe, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. The snowflakes were described a big and wet. Except for scant amounts reported in isolated areas, no snow was reported in northern Dare or Stumpy Point or Tyrrell County.

However, the National Weather Service reported the following snowfall inland: Chocowinity in Beaufort County, 2 inches; Vanceboro in Craven County, 3.7 inches; Snow Hill in Greene County, 4 inches; Kinston in Lenoir County, 3.5 inches; Farmville in Pitt County 3.8 inches.

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NCDOT reported Hertford with 5 inches; Martin and Bertie counties with 4 inches; Elizabeth City with an inch of snow; and less than an inch in Currituck County.

So far, no coastal flooding from Pamlico Sound is reported in Hatteras, though Slash Creek was reported “full” at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. In Frisco, minor coastal flooding was reported. Pamlico Sound water was at the top of bulkheads in Avon and Buxton, but not overtopping.

The gale warning for Pamlico Sound and the Outer Banks coastline was in place until 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. Winds were expected to blow north to north northeast up to 35 miles per hour with gusts to 50.

By midnight Friday, the temperature in Manteo was expected to be 35 with a wind chill of 26 degrees.

On Friday morning, due to strong winds, ferries from Hatteras, Swan Quarter and Cedar Island to Ocracoke were not running. The Currituck ferry was operating on schedule.

The winter storm affected the entire statewide.

The State Highway Patrol and local police responded to crashes during the Friday morning commute. No fatal collisions were reported. Some roads and bridges were closed due to icy conditions.

As of 8 a.m., power was out statewide for about 13,000 homes and businesses. Power outages peaked at about 30,000 before 11 p.m., Thursday night.

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative has no reported power outages though three outages in unoccupied houses were found through the automated management system Friday morning.

Dominion Power reported eight scattered outages north of the Chowan River. By 5 p.m., Friday, all outages save one at the Virginia-North Carolina line were cleared.

At 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21, Tideland Electric Membership Cooperative reported outages affecting around 400 members. Howell’s Mill circuit had 72 members offline. Ten power poles needed to be replaced but winds delayed the installation. The fix was expected to be completed by 7 p.m., Friday night. The Duck Creek/Springdale Village circuit in Bath had 191 members impacted. Outages totaled around 1,300 initially.

Statewide, Friday morning, 86 school districts were closed and 17 announced late openings. Dare, Currituck and Hyde mainland school closures were announced on Thursday. Currituck, Tyrrell and Hyde mainland schools were dismissed early on Thursday.

NCDOT reported sand on NC 12 on Hatteras Island. Crews were working to clear the road.

The National Weather Service had the following advisories posted on Friday night:

For Hatteras Island south of Buxton, the coastal flood watch was in effect until 10 p.m.

For beaches north of Cape Hatteras, the High Surf Advisory was in effect until 1 a.m., Saturday morning. Large breaking waves of eight to 10 feet and rough surf was expected in the surf zone.

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