2 Dead amid winter storm that brought record snow and freezing temperatures to the South. Over 20 inches of snow was reported in parts of North Carolina, while record low temperatures were unleased on Florida.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein reported over 1,000 collisions resulting in two fatalities across the state over the weekend. Stein did not share any details about the victims. State officials advised residents to stay off the roads if they can.
“Please be patient and please stay off the roads unless it’s absolutely necessary,” North Carolina Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said. “If you do have to drive, slow down and give other cars, our teams and other first responders lots of distance.”
Residents of North Carolina woke up Sunday to record-setting snowfall, with some areas reporting over 20 inches of accumulation. Snowfall totals across the state include 22.5 inches in Faust, 16 inches in Lexington, 12 inches in Jacksonville and 11 inches in Charlotte, marking the fourth-largest single-day snowfall and biggest snow event since 2004. Northeastern and coastal communities were hit particularly hard, according to the NCDOT.
Powdery snow measuring up to 10 inches could be seen in Newport, North Carolina, and on the runways of Raleigh-Durham International Airport overnight. Stein warned that in addition to snow, black ice will also be a risk throughout the week due to below-freezing overnight temperatures. ‘Today is a special day for North Carolina because we just do not get snow like this very often. So, have fun, stay off the roads, and stay safe,” Stein said.
Meanwhile, in South Carolina, about 0.7 inches of snow fell at Charleston International Airport on Saturday, breaking the daily snow record of 0.6 inch that was set in 1977, according to the National Weather Service field office in Charleston. The state’s Department of Public Safety asked residents to stay home to avoid dangerous road conditions.
We recognize the severe impact that current conditions are having on our customers, and we are committed to restoring service levels as quickly as possible. As a result of these weather issues, the ALG Client Service Team will send daily updates as we monitor the progress and track job level.