Snowstorm Chaos Hits the Southeast
What Happened
On Monday, a fierce snowstorm ripped out of the state’s interior and dumped as much as 60 cm of snow across the Southeast. The heaviest snowfall landed in Whitetop, Virginia, where the little mountain town tucked into the Appalachians received the full 60 cm. Greensboro and Durham in North Carolina saw 41 cm and 36 cm, respectively. The blizzard left about 138,000 customers still without power as it rolled fully out to sea.
The Toll
- Three people died because of the storm:
- A person suffered a heart‑related break‑away while heading to a shelter.
- A terminally ill woman lost her oxygen supply, causing her death.
- A driver was killed and a passenger injured by a falling tree in Matthews, South Carolina.
- Power outages dropped from >220,000 to 138,000 by Monday night.
- School districts in North, South Carolina, Virginia — and even some counties in Georgia — cancelled classes for the day.
- Fly‑ons of the region saw 25% of flights from Charlotte/Douglas International and other airports cancelled.
Government Response
Gov. Roy Cooper’s office released a statement confirming the three deaths, while Mayor Nancy Vaughan of Greensboro declared a city state of emergency. She reported that police and fire crews answered over 100 accidents and helped 450 stranded motorists.
Road Situations
Central and western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia were predicted to be unforgivably slippery as temperatures slid below freezing. Daniel Petersen, an NWS meteorologist, warned that conditions would stay harsh into Monday night. Minor heat‑up was expected later in the week, with temperatures potentially reaching above 10 °C on Friday—rain chances included.
Takeaway
- Keep away from snowy, icy roads if you can.
- Stay tuned for updates on power restoration and weather warnings.
- Accept that in a scenario like this, “best plans” include a comfy blanket and an emergency kit (oxygen, blankets, a spare battery).
