Winter Storm Brings Light Touch to SoDu - So Far
Freezing rain expected after noon Sunday, with potential accumulations reaching 0.4 inches. Few power outages reported in Durham.
Wes Platt
So far, South Durham doesn't seem to be suffering severe impacts from Winter Storm Fern this Sunday morning.
Yes, roads are icy, but - at least around my neighborhood - we seem to have been spared significant amounts of freezing rain that would topple trees and cause power outages.
As of this morning, it's heartening to see that impacts across the state of North Carolina are not as dire as we'd feared. Duke Energy's power outage map indicates that more than 2,000 customers are without power in western N.C. Durham is relatively unscathed.
But the weather's not quite done with us yet.
The National Weather Service forecast indicates we're still at risk for freezing rain into Monday. At this writing, as I walked Calliope for her morning constitutional, we've got a little sleet. After noon, that's expected to turn into freezing rain. We're warned that we could see accumulations of ice up to o.4 inches. That could still lead to power outages. It's certainly going to add to the treacherous road conditions, and public safety officials continue to discourage residents against driving.
The real question on my mind - and I'm sure many SoDu parents are wondering: will Durham Public Schools be open tomorrow? Will schools be cancelled for days? The whole week?
The district hasn't announced plans for Monday yet, but teachers did send work home with students anticipating remote learning days. I think it's just about a given that schools are closed Monday. Possibly through Thursday or Friday, as temperatures remain frigid throughout the week and keep some Durham roads frozen over. Basically, if some roads in North Durham are impassable, DPS won't try to operate school buses. That means no school.
But if our luck holds, perhaps we'll have electricity and internet to keep us connected.
How's your neighborhood looking? Please send me photos that I can share! Email them to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news. Stay safe and stay warm.
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