Winter storms could bring dangerous roads and possible power outages. Here’s how you prepare
While it is too soon to tell how much snow or ice the Triangle will see, the WRAL Severe Weather Center is tracking a system that could bring “significant” impacts for the coming weekend, Jan. 24 and 25, 2026.
Cities and towns across the Triangle are preparing for an all-hands-on-deck response to the approaching winter storm.
At Duke Energy, which provides power to nearly 5 million customers across the Carolinas, spokesman Jeff Brooks said, “We are monitoring the weather track for the week. Obviously, we’re five days out, so that forecast is going to change, and so at this point, we have to continue monitoring and we’ll adjust our plans as the week progresses.”
Every type of precipitation is possible, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.
>> Tracking snow, ice chances: Forecast signals ‘significant’ winter weather for weekend
Heavy, accumulating snow or layers of ice can weigh down power lines. As little as 1/4 inch of ice is enough to bring down power lines and cause outages in a winter storm. Falling branches can also land on lines, causing power disruption.
“This storm has the potential of generating both of those,” Brooks said. “So that’s something that we’ll have to watch as the forecast becomes a little more solid in the days ahead.”
He recommended that the general public make their plans as well.
“Every storm is an opportunity to be ready. You never know when that storm is going to generate outages,” Brooks said.
Gas up, stock up ahead of winter storm
People can take the days before the storm to stock up on batteries, gas up cars and generators and withdraw cash, because ATMs and card transactions don’t work without power.
Every home should have an emergency kit that includes:
- Prescription and non-prescription medicines for everyone in the family.
- Flashlights and plenty of batteries
- Ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup and cereals, fruits and vegetables, canned or box juices, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars or trail mix
- Baby supplies: formula, bottles pacifiers, blankets, baby wipes and disposable diapers
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Personal hygiene items like soap, shampoo and toilet paper
- Plenty of blankets
Duke Energy team tracks storm to get power back on quickly
Duke Energy will alert customers when they know when and where an outage could happen, Brooks said.
“We have an in -house team of meteorologists that actually tracks every storm that comes through the Carolinas, and they do that not only so that we know what’s going to happen, but because their forecasts help drive our damage modeling system. And that system helps us determine where we’re likely to see outages and in what quantity,” he said.
Those models help the utility put the right people in place to quickly get customers back online. Duke pulls from employees across six states, bringing help to where it is needed most.
Hundreds of workers preparing roads ahead of the storm
North Carolina Department of Transportation
officials said they are looking to spread more than 80,000 gallons of brine in
our area, using at least 49 trucks and 127 employees
DOT Spokesperson Kim Deaner says the exact mix of
rain, snow and ice will determine how NCDOT responds to the storm, including the
equipment crews use, and what gets spread — brine, rock salt, or sand.
Wake Forest is already brining its roads — laying
down a first coat on Tuesday.
In Holly Springs, ahead of the storm, public works
crews have tested and prepared all town vehicles and snow equipment, like
plows.
Snow routes are also in place.
But plans are flexible in case the forecast
fluctuates.
“We’ll be making thos assessments as Mother Nature hands us what she’s going to hand us,” said DOT spokeswoman Kim Deaner. “And then we will adjust appropriately.”
DOT officials said crews will be out brining the
roads starting at 10 a.m.
WRAL reporters Kelsey Coffey and Eric Miller contributed to this report.
