Snowstorm leads to extreme cold, closed schools, businesses, travel dangers in NC | Live Updates

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Last updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 1:53AM GMT
Second round of winter weather in Central NC

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Another winter storm, known as a bomb cyclone, hit parts of Central North Carolina for the second consecutive weekend.

Several weather alerts were issued for the ABC11 viewing area, including a winter storm warning and extreme cold warning. Heavy snow fell across the Triangle and much of North Carolina.

The National Weather Service office in Raleigh warned that wind chills will drop early Monday to near zero Fahrenheit (-17 Celsius). "Snow and ice will linger, with refreezing tonight making travel hazardous," the office said Sunday on social media. "Use caution on roads and dress in warm layers."

In eastern North Carolina, James City recorded 18 inches of snow, while Swansboro recorded 17 inches, the weather service reported.

The bomb cyclone, known to meteorologists as an intense, rapidly strengthening weather system, contributed to nearly a foot of snow in and around Charlotte. The snowfall represented a top-five snow event all-time there, the NWS said.

Flight cancellations exceeded 2,800 in the U.S. on Saturday, with at least another 1,800 on Sunday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking and data company. More than 800 of those Sunday cancellations were for flights departing from or arriving at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The storm caused an hours-long mess on Interstate 85 northeast of the city, after a crash left dozens of semitractors and other vehicles backed up into Saturday evening, according to the State Highway Patrol. More than 1,000 traffic collisions and two road deaths were reported, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said Sunday.

Last week's storm blanketed the area with ice and kept schools closed for most of the week. However, most schools had remote learning days. Business owners said they were hurt by the storm because they had to close early or couldn't open at all.

The Associated Press contributed

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Jan 31, 2026, 4:18 PM GMT

NCDOT crews work to clear roads amid storm, urge caution

N.C. Department of Transportation crews have been busy preparing for and responding to the storm.

By early Saturday morning, they were out salting and, in western North Carolina, plowing roads where snow had started to build up. In central and coastal areas, crews waited for snow to fall before starting road-clearing efforts.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, over 5,500 tons of salt had been applied to roads. The focus is on clearing interstates and highways first, then moving to primary routes and other busy roads.

"Crews are actively clearing roads in the western part of the state, while others are on standby in the east, awaiting further accumulation," said State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson. "We strongly advise against traveling in these weather conditions. Stay off the roads if you can."

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Jan 31, 2026, 2:03 PM GMT

Snow blankets roads in Person County: VIDEO

Snow blankets Roxboro and Person County this Saturday morning, leaving roads slick and icy.

Chief of Police David Hess warns that many roads remain hazardous from last week's storm-stay off the roads if possible. Thankfully, no overnight crashes were reported.

WATCH: ABC11 drone flies over snowy Roxboro

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Jan 31, 2026, 1:42 PM GMT

Apex declares state of emergency

The town of Apex declared a state of emergency Saturday as the winter storm moves over the region.

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Jan 31, 2026, 12:37 PM GMT

Over 1,500 flights canceled Saturday, includes 135 at RDU

As of Saturday morning, over 1,500 flights have been canceled nationwide.

Not surprisingly, the airports most affected are in the winter storm zone and states that have declared a state of emergency: ATL, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Charleston.

135 flights were canceled at RDU as of 7:30 a.m., with 10 delays.
ABC News contributed.