Wilmington prepares for icy weather: Community shelters look to open, residents gear up

A winter storm set to bring freezing rain, ice and snow to the Cape Fear region Friday and through the weekend.

A light rain is falling as of midday Friday, while road conditions are good and temperatures hovering in the lower 30s, where they are expected to stay into Saturday. However, more precipitation is expected to reach the area by 7 p.m. when conditions could turn into ice.

Nearly all of New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties are under an ice storm warning from the National Weather Service, meaning the areas are expected to get at least a quarter inch of ice.

Here's how the storm is impacting area residents:

Planning for a weekend in

As a light, cold rain began again Friday afternoon, Phyllis Goodson was bundled up, walking her dogs before it got worse.

Goodson said she wasn’t too worried about the storm.

“We’re not expecting too much to happen,” Goodson said.

But, she said, if the roads are in bad shape, she’ll opt to stay in or walk to downtown restaurants.

- Jamey Cross

'We all take care of each other'

Kate Cardamone took advantage of a quick break in the rain shortly after 1 p.m. Friday to stop by some of her neighbor's houses in the Historic District, checking to make sure they had all they needed ahead of the storm.

Earlier in the day and week, some of her neighbors dropped off some essentials: crackers, granola and a flashlight, so Cardamone said she was "ready to go."

"We all take care of each other," she said.

Cardamone said she planned to make pea soup Friday to help keep her warm through the evening's wintry weather.

- Jamey Cross

Community shelters look to help

With evening temperatures set to fall well below freezing through the weekend, some area shelters are preparing to offer warmth and food to people experiencing homelessness.

The Warming Shelter in Wilmington is prepared to open and provide food, shelter and beds to people homeless Friday through Sunday.

According to its website, the pop-up shelter opens when temperatures fall below 30 degrees for two or more consecutive days.

Live weather coverage: Wilmington winter weather live update: Cold air 'is rapidly moving in'

The shelter, located at 1403 Market St., housed and fed more than 40 people when it last opened earlier this month.

Major Ken Morris with the Salvation Army in Wilmington said typically the shelter would open its facilities during inclement weather – setting people up on cots in the lobby, hallways or wherever there was space.

But, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases among employees and residents, the shelter is operating at 50% capacity and can’t open for this weekend’s storm.

Morris said while the Salvation Army isn’t able to allow people inside the building, they are planning to serve a hot meal as normal each evening this weekend at its 820 N. 2nd Street location at 6 p.m.

“We wish we could do more,” Morris said.

- Jamey Cross

Calm before the storm

It was a relaxing morning for Wilmington resident Michael Smith.

After walking his dog around 9 a.m., he went out to breakfast and for once was the only one out on the road.

“You could drive all up and down College Road if you wanted to,” he said.

Smith said he prepared for the storm earlier in the week by stocking up on bread but stopped by Food Lion once more before hunkering down for the rest of the day.

“Everyone’s staying home, which is good,” he said.

- John Orona

Have photos from your area showing winter weather impacts? Email them to breakingnews@starnewsonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington NC prepares for icy weather: What's happening in the area