Wilmington spared major damages as overnight storm leaves ice, dangerous road conditions

Wilmington woke up to a frosty morning Saturday after an overnight storm left ice covering the Cape Fear.

A quarter-inch of ice was measured throughout the Wilmington-area Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The storm Friday night into early Saturday morning brought freezing rain, sleet and some snow flurries, the first significant winter storm Southeastern North Carolina has seen in four years.

The storm closed multiple bridges and roads overnight, but most had reopened by Saturday morning.

More: Wilmington winter: Stay off icy roads and tips for safely heating your home during frigid temps

More: How Brunswick County weathered the ice storm

Most of the city was spared severe damage. Jessica Loeper, New Hanover County chief communications officer, said the county's emergency management department had not reported any significant damage Saturday morning.

The region also only saw scattered power outages, a significant improvement from what the western part of the state experienced earlier in the week, said Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks.

Brooks said Duke Energy prepared for large scale outages from the storm and was anticipating significant damage throughout the evening Friday. Luckily, he said, ice accumulation did not reach the threshold to cause major issues from downed tree limbs and power lines.

Crews from around the state met in Wilmington to assist with potential outages throughout the weekend. Duke Energy also brought in help from as far away as Indiana and Ohio. Brooks said Duke Energy tries to be proactive with storms by planning for "the worst scenario we could possibly see" based on damage models and weather forecasts.

Brooks said crews did respond to one downed power line Saturday morning that impacted parts of downtown Wilmington. If ice accumulation had been even the slightest amount higher, he said, it could have made the difference in major power outages around the county.

"We are fully committed to our customers and that's why we brought in the additional resources from other regions, so that we had enough crews in place to restore a significant number of outages had that ice accumulation been just a little bit higher," Brooks said.

Brooks said some threat of power outages remained while roads were still slick, because drivers who lose control of their cars often hit utility poles.

The state Department of Transportation began working to clear roads as much as possible Saturday morning, Loeper said, but officials urged residents to avoid getting on the roads throughout the weekend. Temperatures were expected to get into the mid-30s Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, allowing ice time to melt. But temperatures in the low-20s Saturday night into Sunday morning could cause water to refreeze, creating hazardous road conditions throughout the weekend.

Residents who have to get on the road throughout the weekend should use caution and leave extra space between their car and the car in front of them to give extra time to stop, but driving should be avoided as much as possible.

"I don't have any good advice for driving on the roads other than please, please don't do it," said New Hanover County Emergency Management Director Steven Still Friday afternoon.

Drivers should go slow, give themselves extra time to get where they're going, refrain from using cruise control and avoid bridges and overpasses where possible. If your car begins to slide, don't panic: The department of transportation recommends drivers not use their brakes if they are sliding and wait for the vehicle to slow down and regain traction.

Sidewalks and patios are also likely to be slick, and residents are encouraged to be careful when walking outside to avoid slipping and falling.

Temperatures Sunday will be in the high-40s before dropping back to the high-20s overnight. The beginning of the week will see temperatures that stay above freezing, according to the National Weather Service, allowing any remaining ice to melt.

Reporter Sydney Hoover can be reached at 910-343-2339 or shoover@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington was spared major damages after Friday night's ice storm