LUMBERTON – A winter weather advisory has been issued for Robeson County as forecasters expect snow Friday evening.
The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for Robeson and Bladen counties as well as Darlington, Dillon and Marlboro counties in South Carolina.
“An area of low pressure developing as it moves along the coast on Friday will bring rain and then a shift to snow Friday evening with precipitation leaving the area Saturday,” according to a weather briefing. from the NWS on Friday morning.
“The rain is expected to change to snow on Friday evening. The snow will then decrease on Saturday morning. Up to an inch of snow is expected,” according to the NWS.
Lumberton City Manager Wayne Horne said crews put brine on the roads ahead of the storm. Electric utility workers were also cutting limbs on Friday to prevent possible damage and outages caused by the weather.
“But, I hope it won’t be too serious,” he said.
Stephanie Chavis, Robeson County’s director of emergency management, said the county will continue to update its Facebook page with relevant weather information.
“What we’re doing right now in terms of emergency management, we’re just monitoring,” Chavis said Friday afternoon.
“At the moment, we’re not expecting much,” she said.
Preparations also included making sure all first responders had gasoline in their vehicles and machinery such as chainsaws, she said.
Lumberton areas saw about 2-3 inches of snow last weekend.
“We really don’t expect a lot of snow like we had last week,” she said.
Temperatures were expected to dip in the “teens to near 20” on Saturday evening, becoming “[a]among the coldest temperatures of the winter season,” according to the NWS.
To prepare
As North Carolina residents prepare for a winter storm for the third straight weekend, Governor Cooper and state leaders are reminding residents to be prepared for winter.
“Today is the day to get the essentials you need, so you can stay off the roads tonight and Saturday if conditions are unsafe in your area,” Governor Cooper said in a statement Friday.
State emergency officials are reminding people to pay close attention to their local forecasts. The accumulation of snow could lead to dangerous movements from Friday evening to Saturday noon.
Winter weather advisories have been issued for much of Piedmont and the Coastal Plain, where 1 to 2 inches of snowfall are expected, with localized totals of up to 3 inches possible. A winter storm warning has been issued for Currituck County, where 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected. Along the North Carolina-Tennessee border, winter storm warnings remain in effect for areas above 3,500 feet with forecast snow totals of 2 to 5 inches and 6 to 8 inches at altitudes above 5,000 feet. Winter weather advisories are in effect for areas below 3,500 feet, where 1 to 4 inches of snow is expected.
Gusty winds are expected across the state tonight and Saturday, which will bring very cold wind chill readings and could lead to isolated power outages and minor coastal flooding.
NCDOT crews are preparing equipment for the response and have pre-treated roads with brine where possible. If you must drive in winter conditions, the State Highway Patrol advises to significantly reduce speed, increase the distance between other vehicles, and clear all snow and ice from your vehicle before traveling.
Safety tips
To stay safe during the winter, North Carolina Emergency Management advises residents and visitors to follow these tips:
• Pay close attention to your local forecast and be prepared for what is expected in your area.
• Keep cell phones, mobile devices and spare batteries charged.
• Use a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or weather alert app on your phone to receive emergency weather alerts.
• Dress warmly. Wear several layers of thin clothing instead of one layer of thick clothing.
• Store an emergency kit in your vehicle. Include scraper, jumper cables, tow chain, sand/salt, blankets, flashlight, first aid kit and road map.
• Gather emergency supplies for your pet, including a leash and feeding supplies, enough food for several days, and a pet carrier.
• Do not leave pets outside for long periods in freezing weather.
• Pay attention to your friends, neighbors and elderly people during the winter.
If your power goes out:
• Make sure generators are operated outdoors and away from open windows or doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas grill indoors.
• Properly vent kerosene heaters.
• Use battery-operated light sources instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire.
Visit ReadyNC.gov for more information on winter safety and preparation. For more information on road conditions, visit DriveNC.gov.
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