Mixed precip to increase in evening, snOBX to arrive overnight; power issues already reported

A Dominion Energy lineman trying to put out a burning pole on Carlton Avenue in Kill Devil Hills. [KDHPD photo]

With forecasters calling for at least the northern Outer Banks and northeastern N.C. to get a blast of wintry weather heading into the weekend, local schools cancelled classes Friday, the N.C. Ferry Service has called off runs and there are other closings and delays.

Stay with the OBX Today Weather Center, Beach 104, Big 94.5 WCMS, 99.1 The Sound and Z 92.3 for all the latest info, and we’ll be updating this story throughout the storm.


Erik Heden from the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City joined us midday Friday with an update about what to expect:

Latest forecast from the National Weather Service with timing and type of precipitation expected:

Snow totals, ice totals and wind gusts expected through Saturday:

Crews out setting cones at the U.S. 158/Colington Road intersection. [KDHPD photo]
Friday 4 p.m.

A blown transformer in Kill Devil Hills knocked out power to areas immediately south of the Wright Brothers National Memorial, including the traffic lights at U.S. 158 and Colington Road, Colington Road/Veterans Drive and Ocean Bay Boulevard/N.C. 12.

A Dominion Energy lineman uses a fire extinguisher to put out a burning pole on Carlton Avenue in Kill Devil Hills. Strong winds from a winter storm are causing issues all along the Outer Banks. [courtesy Capt. J.C. Towler, KDHPD]:

Kill Devil Hills Fire Department and Dominion Power responding to a transformer and pole fire on Carlton Avenue. [KDHPD photo]

Power has been restored and all lights are functional again, with normal traffic flow resumed. Carlton Avenue is still closed.

Friday 2 p.m.

The Town of Duck will be closing its administrative offices at 3 p.m.


Friday 11:55 a.m.
The Dare County Parks and Recreation Department has announced that all youth basketball games and practices scheduled to take place north of Oregon Inlet are canceled for Saturday, January 22, 2022, due to the inclement weather that is forecast to occur during this weekend’s winter storm.

These cancellations include youth basketball games and practices at both the Roanoke Island/Mainland Division in Manteo and the Northern Beach Division in Kill Devil Hills. Basketball coaches will be notified regarding the make-up schedule.

For more information, click the button below or call the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s Roanoke Island/Mainland Division at 252-475-5910 or the Northern Beach Division at 252-475-5920.


Friday 9:15 a.m.
Latest from S-Turns north of Rodanthe:

Ferries will likely not be running today on any of the routes on our end of North Carolina.


Friday 9 a.m.
UPDATED: Currituck County Government offices will close at 1:00 p.m. today. County residents are advised to avoid travel, if possible, as road conditions may become icy and hazardous during the day and evening.

All recycling convenience centers, and the transfer station will also close at 1:00 p.m. today and will remain closed until Monday, Jan. 24. This is due to the landfill in Bertie County being closed through the weekend.


Friday 7:15 a.m.
Email update from Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson:
“Winds have picked up and temperatures have stayed just above freezing overnight and should stay that way into this evening. As the temperature falls below freezing tonight winter conditions should be expected overnight into the morning. Saturday will bring clearing conditions with above freezing temperatures. Saturday night will see potential refreezing making road surfaces slick.

“Travel to the west and north will be challenging and should be avoided. Power outages can still occur locally and may take time to resolve as power companies deal with what could be significant outages across eastern NC and tidewater VA.”


Friday, 6:30 a.m.
Early this morning, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office reports along Pea Island there are several areas where sand was completely covering N.C. 12 and had become deep enough that passenger cars may not be able to pass through. There was also some sand and water at S-Turns north of Rodanthe.

Overnight there was a dusting to nearly an inch of snow on the ground on the Currituck mainland. N.C. 168 and U.S. 158 are currently passable, but temperatures are right around freezing and there are likely slick spots.

N.C. 168 at Pudding Ridge Road, Moyock

N.C. 168/N.C. 34, Sligo

U.S. 158/N.C. 168, Barco


Dare County Schools will be closed Friday for all staff and students. High school students are reminded that any exam scheduled for Friday, January 21 will now be given on Wednesday, January 26. Contact your teacher for more information.

Currituck County Schools will be closed to students Friday, with staff on option 1.

All College of the Albemarle campuses are closed Friday.


The North Carolina Ferry System is canceling all ferry departures scheduled for Friday before 7 a.m. to allow ferry and road crews to assess travel conditions on a route-by-route basis.

Each individual ferry terminal will then decide whether it is safe to operate the remainder of the day. Passengers wishing to travel on any ferry route over the weekend should check their route’s Twitter feed or call the terminal before heading to the ferry.

Cedar Island-Ocracoke: @NCFerryPamSound, (252) 463-7040
Swan Quarter-Ocracoke: @NCFerryPamSound, (252) 791-3300
Bayview-Aurora: @NCFerryPamRiver, (252) 964-4521
Hatteras-Ocracoke: @NCFerryHatteras, (252) 996-6000
Currituck-Knotts Island: @NCFerryCTuck, (252) 621-6300

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.


Wright Brothers National Memorial and the visitor center at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site will not open Friday, Jan. 21 until 12 p.m.

The National Park Service will reassess conditions tomorrow morning and may open later than 12 p.m., if necessary. From Jan. 21-23, visitors should check park websites and social media for daily operational updates prior to traveling to the parks. Visitors can also sign up to receive text alerts by texting NPSOBX to 333111.


Hyde County Government offices, Clerk of Court’s office, and Solid Waste sites will be closed on Friday, January 21, 2022, due to the approaching winter storm.

In addition, the pre-bid meeting for the Hyde County Airport Farm Lease originally scheduled for Friday, January 21, 2022, will be rescheduled to Friday, January 28, 2022, at 10:00 am at the airport.


Winter storm conditions arrive early Friday on the mainland, later in the day on Outer Banks

Its a complex scenario across our coverage area, with the highest amount of snow and sleet expected to the closer you get to the state line. Mainland areas are more likely to get the most snow accumulation, but the northern beaches could also see several inches of at least a slushy mix by Saturday morning.

A Winter Storm Warning has been posted for the beaches north of Oregon Inlet and all areas of northeastern N.C. west of the sounds.

There is also the possibility of minor soundside flooding from Buxton to Ocracoke and minor overwash at high tide along the east facing beaches, due to northerly winds of 25 to 40 mph and higher gusts. A Wind Advisory has been issued for the Outer Banks, along with a High Surf Advisory and Coastal Flood Advisory.

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About Sam Walker 1512 Articles
Sam Walker was news director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, Big 94.5 WCMS and Z 92.3 from August 2011 to March 2022.