Winter weather arrived in the Triangle with cold rain instead of snow in the Raleigh area Friday morning.
A WRAL Weather Alert Day was issued, but canceled at 11 a.m. as conditions improved in the area.
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Counties north of the Triangle saw some snow early Friday. WRAL reporter Ally Kadlubar was in Roxboro when flakes began dropping just after 5 a.m.
The weather prompted more than 100 delays or closures in the area, including some districts that decided to switch to remote learning.
The latest:
11 a.m.: As conditions have improved, the WRAL Weather Alert Day has ended, WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said.
10:30 a.m.: Winter Weather Advisories for Durham and Orange counties were just canceled. Some advisories remained in effect for counties closer to the Virginia border.
10:07 a.m.: The Town of Benson has rescheduled its "Christmas on Main" event from Friday night to Monday Dec. 8.
8:28 a.m.: If you are hitting the road this morning, make sure to go slow as roads are wet. No major issues were reported as of 8 a.m.
7:50 a.m.: Terry from Franklinton sent in this photo taken in Charlottesville, Virginia this morning. They were working in the area and woke up to their car covered in snow.
7:40 a.m.: What are conditions like right now?
7:15 a.m.: WRAL reporter Ally Kadlubar is enjoying her first snow in North Carolina. The Louisiana native hasn't seen snow in awhile, so she took the opportunity to make a snowman while in Roxboro.
7:10 a.m.: A viewer in Louisburg sent us some video of freezing rain falling in the Flat Rock Church Road area this morning.
7 a.m.: Will freezing rain or snow stick to the road? WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said road temperatures are above freezing so it is unlikely anything will stick.
6:48 a.m.: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools is sticking with its plan for a two-hour delay this morning. A school system spokesperson told WRAL there are no plans to change it at this time.
6:43 a.m.: Warren County Schools will switch from a two-hour delay to a remote learning day for all students and staff, the school system just announced.
6:40 a.m.: We are starting to hear reports of traffic wrecks in the area. There have been reports of wrecks on I-87 near Poole Road and another on Capital Boulevard near Highwoods Boulevard in Raleigh. WRAL is working to learn more about these wrecks.
6:37 a.m.: North Carolina Central students will take final exams virtually due to weather conditions Friday.
6:05 a.m.: The Tree of Life Candlelight Vigil held by the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program and MADD NC that was scheduled for today has been canceled. The Tree will still be decorated to honor all lives lost on North Carolina roadways in 2024.
5:45 a.m.: WRAL's Ally Kadlubar is in Roxboro, where it's snowing in and out throughout the morning. She talked to a runner who said while he's used to getting up this early, he might sacrifice his running day if it gets too wintry.
5:30 a.m.: The Town of Youngsville has canceled its Tree Lighting Ceremony planned for tonight. The fireworks show has been postponed.
5:25 a.m.: Snow is also falling at Kerr Lake and Lake Gaston.
5:20 a.m.: The town of Butner has canceled its Christmas in the Park event planned for tonight due to weather conditions. Organizers said they might move it to another date. Pictures with Santa will be available at Gazebo Park following the Butner Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3:30 p.m.
5:15 a.m.: Snow is falling in Roxboro. WRAL reporter Ally Kadlubar sent this photo in.
5:10 a.m.: Roanoke Rapids is moving most activities planned for its Christmas on the Avenue event tonight indoors. The tree lighting ceremony will take place outside in Centennial Park at 6 p.m., followed by vendors, crafts, performances, face painting and pictures with Santa indoors at Lloyd Andrews and Jo Story Senior Center. The Beer and Wine Garden will still be located at the Chamber of Commerce.
5 a.m.: WRAL has learned that downtown Oxford's Lighting of the Greens & Christmas Parade has been postponed due to the freezing rain and sleet, creating the potential for unsafe road conditions. The Facebook post by downtown Oxford added that they intent to reschedule and announce that reschedule date as soon as possible.
4:30 a.m.: A mix of rain and sleet has just started falling in Roxboro.
4:20 a.m.: The winter weather advisory in Mecklenburg County, Virginia was extended to 1 a.m. on Saturday. The advisory is in effect for most of our viewing area until noon today.
3: 55 a.m.: WRAL News starts at 4 a.m. with live updates on road and weather conditions.
3:30 a.m.: We have crews across the area with live looks at road conditions. Temperatures are beginning to fall to around freezing in our northern counties.
2 a.m.: Temperatures remained above freezing as of 2 a.m., but we've already had a wintry mix from Raleigh and points north.
12 a.m.: Winter weather advisories began around midnight for several counties across central NC, including Durham, Orange and Alamance counties. Most will expire around midnight on Saturday.
Thursday
11 p.m. We're starting to see some precipitation move into the Triangle, but it still isn't cool enough for any sleet falling to stick. Our temperatures throughout central NC is hanging around the upper 30s and low 40s.
10 p.m.: WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell and more are starting to see sleet in Cary, and some off of Avent Ferry also spotted sleet.
9 p.m. Granville County Schools announced schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday.
8 p.m. Hundreds of people in the Creedmoor area are dealing with electrical and power issues ahead of a winter storm. According to Duke Energy officials, this comes after an “equipment issue” left thousands without power the day before Thanksgiving.
Read more: Power problem leaves Creedmoor residents with HVAC issues ahead of winter storm
7:15 p.m. Wake County Public Schools announced schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Friday.
7 p.m.: 73 closings and delays were reported, including Durham, Johnston and Orange public schools.
How cities prepared for this winter weather event
With 500 tons of salt and two tanks of 3,500 gallons of brine, the City of Durham was ready for this winter wave and others that are to come to the city this season.
Brined and ready, Durham employees prepared city-owned bridges and overpasses by spreading a couple hundred gallons on the roads on Thursday.
"We anticipate that the temperature may drop to where we will have some slippery areas on the bridges," said Phillip Powell, assistant director of public works and street maintenance for the City of Durham.
Powell told WRAL's Monica Casey that those bridges include overpasses on Duke and Roxboro streets.
He added that crews have actually been doing dry-runs for months. City crews are also loading salt to be on standby if needed.
"We start in the summer with out equipment, preparing our equipment, ensuring it's ready," Powell said.
Over in Roxboro, one of the cities expected to be the most impacted, snow equipment has been mounted on trucks.
“As soon as precipitation starts, crews will begin monitoring roads and treating them as required,” city officials said in an email.
After putting down about 1,500 gallons within Roxboro, crews were prepared to switch to rock salt when snow and ice arrived.
Right now, the City has 75 tons of salt available. They are waiting for more to arrive from a new vendor.
In Chapel Hill, town sidewalks have been salted and elevated surfaces were brined.
Because the snow is expected to stay north of Raleigh, city officials tell WRAL they did not brine roads maintained by the City.
However, City spokesperson Julia Milstead said Raleigh eight trucks loaded with spreaders and plows, and staff will be ready to respond, if needed.
