Winter storm hits Central North Carolina, bringing ice and sleet

Sleet and snow are falling Sunday morning, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the Triangle.

The transition to freezing rain is occurring in the Sandhills and is expected to reach the Triangle shortly.

Looking ahead

A lull is likely into early afternoon before a final west-to-east burst of rain or freezing rain. This burst may include elevated wind gusts, increasing the risk of outages due to ice on trees.

Bitter cold will persist through the end of next week, with highs in the 20s and 30s, single-digit feels at night, and teens during the day. Monday night and Tuesday morning will be the coldest, with some daytime melting possible early in the week.

Roads in Person County are icy this Sunday morning, according to Roxboro city officials.

No vehicle collisions or power outages have been reported since the storm started.

"Road conditions are poor and are not expected to improve for the next 24-48 hours. Please stay home," officials advised. "Enjoy a warm beverage and time with family. Your safety and ours matter."

Here are five ways to survive the winter season and keep you and your family safe.

Here's how to report and check power outages in your area

Power outages are always possible regardless of the season, when severe weather strikes. Click here for some tips on what to do before, during and after a storm.

How to safely use a space heater, fireplace, wood burning stove to heat your home

When it's cold outside, many of us may resort to using supplemental heat like a space heater to stay warm. Fire departments don't discourage it, however, they emphatically encourage you to be very careful and follow safety protocols to prevent fires or burn injuries. First and most importantly, install smoke alarms to warn of a fire. You can contact your local fire department to get one for free and they'll install it. You should also have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home to warn about a faulty furnace, fireplace or other venting problems. FULL STORY

Keep your phone, other electronic devices charged during a power outage

Severe weather or natural disasters will almost always knock out power for some of us. The outage can last an hour or days. And, for most of us, our phone is our lifeline. It's also our main source of communication to call for help and check on family members and neighbors.

Click here for a list of a few hacks you should keep handy ahead of a storm.

How long does food last in the refrigerator/ freezer after a power outage?

When a storm knocks out the electricity, it's recommended that you keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food can stay cold for about four hours, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Full Story.

Here's how to safely turn your home into a warming station

There's never a 'good time' for an outage; however, losing electricity during the winter can be extra brutal. Here are some tips we compiled from ready.gov and other sources to help you safely turn your home into a 'warming station' until power is restored. Many of these items are already in your home.

Full details here.

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Part of I-440 was closed tonight after multiple cars including a Raleigh police car were involved in a crash.

Police tell us an officer was responding to a crash on I-440 westbound near the Wade Avenue exit when another car slid into the cruiser.

The officer is expected to be ok.

Weather is believed to have been a factor.