Storm Setup Delivered Widespread Fury (Image Credits: Flickr)
The Carolinas – A rare bomb cyclone slammed North and South Carolina with heavy snow and biting winds over the January 31-February 1 weekend, marking one of the most significant winter events in decades.[1][2]
Storm Setup Delivered Widespread Fury
A classic winter pattern fueled the onslaught. An Arctic front locked in frigid air across the region, while a deepening low-pressure system tracked offshore. This setup ensured all precipitation fell as snow, from the mountains to the coast.[2]
The National Weather Service labeled it a historic storm. Meteorologists noted the rapid intensification into a bomb cyclone off the North Carolina coast. Snowfall rates surged, creating near-blizzard conditions in spots like Beaufort County.[1]
Winds gusted over 35 mph amid heavy flakes, reducing visibility to a quarter-mile for hours. The event marked the first measurable snow in all 100 North Carolina counties since 2014.[2]
Accumulations Rewrote Local Records
Snow piled up dramatically across diverse terrain. Coastal Plain areas saw the heaviest totals, with Peletier recording 19.5 inches and Pender County reaching 18 inches. Newport tallied 15 inches, while New Bern measured 12.5 inches.[2][1]
In the Piedmont, Charlotte Douglas International Airport logged 11.4 inches, its sixth-largest storm on record and the most since 2004. Greensboro hit 10.3 inches, and surrounding spots like Kannapolis and Lexington exceeded 16 inches.[3][2]
- Peletier, NC Coastal Plain: 19.5 inches
- Pender County, NC: 18 inches
- Charlotte, NC: 11.4 inches
- Newport, NC: 15 inches
- Wilmington, NC: 5.8 inches
- Beech Mountain, NC Mountains: 13.3 inches
Mountain regions varied, with Beech Mountain at 13.3 inches and Asheville at 4 inches. South Carolina shared the burden, though specifics remained lighter inland.[2]
Impacts Paralyzed the Region
Travel ground to a halt. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency after over 1,000 collisions, including two fatalities. Interstate 85 saw a massive pileup stranding more than 100 vehicles.[1]
Airports reeled: Charlotte canceled over 800 flights, with Raleigh-Durham at 25% and Wilmington over 60%. Highway 12 in the Outer Banks closed due to ocean overwash, exacerbating coastal erosion. More than 10,000 customers lost power early Sunday.[1][4]
“This has truly been a historic storm that will be talked about for decades to come,” stated the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, which recorded 5.8 inches.[1]
Cold Grip Followed the Snow
Bitter cold settled in post-storm. Sunday highs lingered in the upper 20s to low 30s, with wind chills dipping to 0 to 5 below zero. Monday promised single-digit lows amid northwest gusts.[4]
Melt-refreeze cycles threatened black ice on roads through the week. Officials urged residents to stay indoors, layer up, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Plowing prioritized major routes, but secondary roads faced delays up to a week.[1]
Key Takeaways
- First statewide snow in NC since 2014, with coastal records last seen in 1980s or earlier.
- Two deaths and thousands of crashes highlight travel dangers.
- Arctic outbreak brings life-threatening cold into mid-week.
This once-in-a-generation event reshaped winter norms for the Carolinas, blending awe-inspiring beauty with stark reminders of nature’s power. As cleanup begins, communities rebuild stronger. What impacts did you see in your area? Share in the comments.
