Last updated: Sunday, January 25, 2026 5:23AM GMT
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency as a potentially catastrophic ice storm is headed toward North Carolina this weekend.
Several weather alerts, including a Winter Storm Warning and a Winter Storm Advisory, will take effect on Saturday night and remain in effect until Monday afternoon.
In Central NC, you can expect moderate to heavy mixed precipitation, mainly sleet and freezing rain. There is a possibility of seeing snow in you are in the Piedmont.
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Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages.
Key Headlines
Here’s how the news is developing.
Emergency shelters open in Wake County
Wake County has opened two pet-friendly emergency shelters to provide residents with a safe place from the dangerous weather conditions.
The shelters are located at Southeast Raleigh High School. The school is located at 2600 Rock Quarry Road.
Another shelter is available at Heritage High School at 1150 Forestville Road in Wake Forest.
Anyone who decides to stay at the shelters is asked to bring the following:
Your prescription medicationsSpecial need items, such as eyeglasses, contact lens solution, hearing aid batteries, etc.Items for infants/young children, such as formula, diapers, bottles, etc.Items you need for their pet’s care, including medications, crates, leashes, pet food, cat litter and pans, etc.Download the ABC11 App for breaking news alerts and weather alerts
Jan 24, 2026, 10:04 PM GMT
RDU passengers change plans due to weather
Two friends at RDU say they changed their flight to Boston from Monday to Saturday to avoid the snowstorm.
“We actually were really teeter tottering between leaving Monday, which was our original plans or trying to leave before the snow, because getting there was the bigger issue than being in Boston. We changed our flight to avoid the snowstorm,” said Bella Villa, RDU traveler.
According to Flightware, there have been 72 flight cancellations at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Saturday and 26 delays.
Jan 24, 2026, 8:55 PM GMT
Duke Energy prepared to tackle ice
Jeff Brooks, with Duke Energy, tells ABC11 they are ready for whatever Mother Nature brings with the winter storm, especially ice.
“When it hits a quarter of an inch, the tree limbs start to break, and they can come down on the lines. When we get to half an inch, those lines can sag, and they can break themselves. We do everything we can to strengthen the electric grid, adding new technologies to help recover faster. But Mother Nature is powerful. And so we should take it seriously.”
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Jan 24, 2026, 7:13 PM GMT
72 flights cancelled at RDU
There has been 72 flight cancellations at Raleigh-Durham International Airport today, as well as 18 delays.