Residents should plan to stay in and off the roads if possible as a winter storm is expected to hit ...
FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:
The latest forecast from the National Weather Service now calls for 3-6 inches of snow in Wilson County, mainly before 4 a.m. Saturday. Tonight's low temperature will be around 22 degrees with the wind chill around 13 degrees. The winter storm warning continues to 7 a.m. Saturday.
State and local officials ask residents to stay off the roads if possible during the storm.
FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE:
Snow is still in the forecast for later this afternoon and overnight with 3-4 inches expected, according to the National Weather Service. Precipitation should be all snow here, NWS meteorologist Jimmy Danco said this morning.
Wilson County is in the area that is expected to receive the most snow from this storm in central North Carolina, he said.
Wilson County remains in a winter storm warning until 7 a.m. Saturday. It will be windy today with gusts as high as 24 mph and a wind chill of 16 degrees today and 11 degrees overnight. Black ice is possible today from last night's mixed precipitation. Today’s high temperature will be around 30 degrees, dipping to 23 overnight. Saturday’s high temperature will be around 35 degrees dropping to the teens Saturday night.
Danco said there would be some melting on Sunday, but it won’t be a quick melt.
Residents should plan to stay in and off the roads if possible as a winter storm is expected to hit Wilson Friday.
Gordon Deno, Wilson County Emergency Management director, said because of predicted low temperatures, Wilson may have very slick road conditions. He said those conditions won’t improve much over the weekend.
Snow and sleet are expected Friday and Friday night as well as bitter cold wind chill of around 12 degrees during the day, according to the National Weather Service. The high is expected to reach 28 degrees. The wind chill Saturday night will be around 9 degrees. Temperatures will be in the teens both Friday and Saturday nights. Wilson could see between 2 to 4 inches of snow.
“Because of predicted temps, we may have very slick road conditions,” said Gordon Deno, Wilson County Emergency Management director. “That won’t improve much over the weekend.”
Deno said it’s vital for residents stay off the roads.
“Our hospital is dealing with peak demand, so is EMS,” he said referring to COVID-19. “Any motor vehicle crashes that result in injury will additionally tax an already stressed system.”
Wilson County is under winter storm warning starting at 7 p.m. today and lasting until 7 a.m. Saturday. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the winter storm.
Area school closures for Friday include the following:
• Wilson County Schools and central office. Friday’s closure will be an inclement weather day, not a remote learning day.
• Wilson Community College. Students and staff should check their WCC communications Sunday afternoon for a decision about Monday, college officials said.
• Barton College. The closure includes its offices, classes and team practices.
