NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – An Ice Storm Warning is in effect for New Hanover County and impacts of freezing rain and ice are expected to begin in our area Friday morning. Ice is expected to accumulate on Friday up to a half inch in some areas, and temperatures will not get above freezing for an extended period of time until Sunday, so road conditions are expected to be dangerous through Sunday morning. View the latest National Weather Service briefing here for more information.
County Facilities Closed Friday & Saturday
Given this current forecast, New Hanover County offices, vaccination clinics, landfill (including the household hazardous waste facility and recycling center), parks, libraries and attractions (including Cape Fear Museum, Arboretum and Airlie Gardens), will be closed on Friday and Saturday, January 21-22, for the safety of staff and the public. The museum and libraries will remain closed Sunday, but county parks, Airlie Gardens, and the Arboretum plan to reopen to the public at noon on Sunday unless conditions prevent it. All county facilities are expected to reopen on Monday for normal operations.
Courthouse Closed Friday
New Hanover and Pender courts and courthouses will also be closed on Friday. For New Hanover court, cases will be continued and any emergency filings can be done at the magistrates office located at the New Hanover County Jail on Blue Clay Road, according to Clerk of Superior Court Jan Kennedy. All non-emergency filings can be done on Monday.
Residents Should Take Precautions
The county’s Emergency Management team is currently monitoring the forecast and potential impacts for our area and cautions that there is the potential for widespread power outages, which can occur when about a quarter inch of ice accumulates on power lines.
“Impacts from ice are possible for our area starting Friday, as rain transitions into freezing rain early morning and then a mix of wintry weather, including sleet, is expected in the afternoon and into Saturday morning,” said Emergency Management Director Steven Still. “Up to a half inch of ice accumulation is anticipated in some areas of our county that could cause downed trees and power outages, and winds could gust up to 25 mph which could add additional stress to ice-covered trees and power lines. While this storm may be short lived, the impacts could be significant, so we encourage all residents to take precautions now, prepare for possible power outages, and have you what you need to stay warm. The ice will also create dangerous road conditions, so please plan to stay off the roads until roads are clear and safe to drive on.”
Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, so residents are encouraged to review their emergency plans and be prepared for winter weather. Here are a few tips to help you prepare:
Stay informed at EmergencyNHC.com and by following New Hanover County on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for the county’s emergency text alerts and emergency news here.