Storm moves out, but ice will linger
GREENSBORO — Triad residents might wake up to partly sunny skies Sunday morning, but they should think twice before venturing out of their homes.
Forecasters predict the winter storm that dumped a half-foot or more of snow in the Southeast this weekend will linger in the form of treacherous, icy roads Sunday and Monday.
Temperatures should rise into the low 30s today but then drop back into the teens tonight.
“That’s going to be the main concern is people wanting to get out in the morning,” said Mike Moneypenny, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
The accumulation and freezing temperatures led Gov. Bev Perdue to declare a state of emergency, a protocol that government officials follow to apply for federal funds to clear debris, restore utilities and repair damages.
In Guilford County, where about 6 1/2 inches of snow fell, life seemed to go on — inconvenienced but without much incident Saturday.
Most flights to and from Greensboro’s PTI Airport were canceled Saturday. But Duke Energy and law enforcement agencies reported few power outages or serious wrecks in Guilford and Rockingham counties.
“We may experience some outages as a result of trees snapping and things like that,” Duke spokesman Tom Shiel said, anticipating for Sunday. “This could have been much, much worse. We were predicting a more difficult storm.”
Some local businesses closed or operated shorter hours Saturday but planned to resume normal hours Sunday.
Although bus systems in High Point and Winston-Salem closed Saturday, the Greensboro Transit Authority operated its main routes as roads cleared, said spokesman Kevin Elwood. The authority plans to run buses Sunday on a four-hour delay, starting at 10 a.m., he said.
“We realize that during times like this, more and more people are dependent on public transportation to get to their destination, so we are going to try to keep service going as much as possible,” Elwood said.
Most Triad residents used the winter storm as an opportunity to rest indoors or play in the snow.
On Saturday, Matt and Kathleen McClain took their 2-year-old daughter, Eloise, sledding for the first time on the popular hills of Lindley Elementary School.
“Pull your feet up,” Matt McClain said before his daughter slid stomach-down on a garbage can top. “Wait, wait, wait! 1... 2... 3... There you go!”
McClain said he looked forward to his family relaxing at home later with a cup of hot chocolate.
But the storm created a lot of work for others. Landscaper Thomas Wilson spent the day blowing snow, a side job that helps keep his finances in the black during the winter months. Wilson figured he would blow at least 30 parking lots by Monday.
“It helps out with those unexpected bills,” he said as he pushed snow around in the Sears parking lot off Friendly Avenue.
StreetWatch leader Audrie Keen said her outreach group depleted its reserves as volunteers hit the streets Friday evening to distribute food bags, gloves, sleeping bags and tents to 15 homeless people living outside. Among the recipients: a man Keen found living in the woods off Freeman Mill Road clothed in a thin jacket with a broken zipper. He had only pieces of plastic for a makeshift shelter.
Keen saw to it that the man got a warm winter coat, sleeping bag and a tent.
“Animals shouldn’t be out in this, much less human beings,” she said. “Some people are tough and can survive, but the ones who are new to this, or weak in spirit — those are the ones I’m concerned about.”
Staff writers J. Brian Ewing and Lorraine Ahearn contributed to this report.
Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 627-4881, Ext. 119, or morgan.josey@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: A city snow plow makes its way past Greene Street on Jan. 30.
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