Black ice remains a concern for morning commuters
The winter storm that blanketed parts of North Carolina with 14 inches of snow has moved out, but officials still warn residents that driving conditions remain hazardous in spots Wednesday morning.
Temperatures dropped below freezing beginning around 9 p.m. Tuesday, causing some refreezing overnight. Freezing temperatures will remain until around 10 a.m.
The good news is main roads are mostly in good shape. However, some side roads remain icy in spots.
The side roads with slick spots caused numerous wrecks and traffic backups around the Raleigh-Durham area. Anyone driving Wednesday morning is asked to be cautious and give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
Wednesday and Thursday should bring highs near upper the 40s and nearing 50, meaning the snow will be melting away.
Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier Tuesday that the storm has taken the lives of three people. The third died Monday.
Cooper said the man was trying to get his truck unstuck on I-77 when he had some "medical problems," which resulted in his death.
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Because of incidents like that, he is encouraging people to remain off of roads if they appear snow-covered.
One driver flipped his car on a Durham bridge Tuesday morning. Thankfully, he walked away without any serious injuries.
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NC Highway Patrol said it has responded to more than 2,300 accidents and 5,800 calls for service since midnight on Sunday.
ABC11 Meteorologist Don "Big Weather" Schwenneker said temperatures Tuesday reached into the low 40s, a good 10-15 degrees below average for this time of the year.
Freezing temperatures will run all the way until 8 a.m. Wednesday.
For perspective, temperatures didn't drop below freezing until 3 or 4 a.m. Tuesday.
"Several hours of freezing could exacerbate that ice formation out there," Big Weather said. "I do think we could see ice in several spots tomorrow."
NCDOT crews have used 35,000 tons of salt since the snow started Sunday.
Watch: Big Weather learns how to get out of a skid
