DOT preps for second round of snow; roads slushy

Emergency crews responded to 69 crashes and assisted 70 stuck or stranded vehicles since Wednesday afternoon.

“As snow and ice blanketed almost our entire state yesterday, the threat of dangerous road conditions and power outages remains today,” McCrory said. “Another round of wintry weather is expected this afternoon. It is important to stay off the roads so our first responders can address the safety concerns of our citizens and clear the roads."

State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said North Carolina is handling storm response on its own and hasn't requested any federal disaster declaration. If officials determine, while assessing damage, that federal assistance is needed, they will request such aid, he said.

Intersections on primary and secondary roads could be especially tricky to navigate throughout the day, WRAL traffic reporter Brian Shrader said.

Another round of snow, which is expected to arrive in the Triangle after lunchtime, could also make conditions worse during the afternoon and evening. Another 2 to 3 inches of snow is possible in Wake County and surrounding areas, and spots closer to the Virginia border could end up with 4 to 5 additional inches of accumulation.

Department of Transportation crews were continuing to treat and plow primary roads across the area, and crews will transition to secondary roads throughout the day.

Durham County officials have not yet towed abandoned cars, but officials said DOT crews may have moved or towed cars in order to allow plows to clear highways and primary roads.

In Raleigh, city officials are still urging residents to stay off the roads if possible. Main roads are slushy. Crews salted and plowed many priority one and two streets in Raleigh overnight, and they will be hitting priority three roads on Thursday, officials said.

The first commercial flight is scheduled to depart at 11 a.m., but many airlines will not resume their scheduled until Thursday afternoon. 

JetBlue, Air Canada Jazz and United Airlines have canceled all flights scheduled for Thursday, officials said. Travelers are urged to contact their airline over the next two days to learn more about the status of flights.

"The roads are safer than they were on Wednesday, but we're asking everyone to say home," Wake County DOT engineer Britt McCurry said. "Stay out of the way, and let us finish what we need to do." 

Once primary roads and interstates are clear, DOT crews will begin clearing secondary roads around the area.

State Department of Transportation crews and local law enforcement agencies were out in force early Thursday working to clear Triangle roads of ice and snow and abandoned cars left by drivers when the bulk of a massive winter storm roared through the area. 

Hundreds of abandoned cars were towed overnight at the request of DOT officials, Highway Patrol officials said.

Wintry precipitation was slowly coming to an end across the Triangle at 4:30 a.m., a positive sign for those crews that will be working to clear roads during the morning hours. 

Most interstates, U.S. highways and primary roads were wet and slushy in spots, but no major problems were being reported early Thursday, WRAL traffic reporter Brian Shrader said. 

"Intersections could be tricky this morning, and they will definitely continue to be slushy," he said. "But the brine and early work by plows has done a good job with the interstates and major roads."

Still, officials across the Triangle were urging people to stay off the roads if possible. 

Another round of snow during the lunchtime hours could create more hazardous conditions during the afternoon, and overnight lows in the upper 20s to near 30 degrees will allow the liquid left on the roads to re-freeze.

"We hope to clean all interstate routes, but we don't know exactly a time period," said Jason Holmes, an engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. "A lot of it will depend on how easily we can move the material."

That "material" is snow covered with a glistening icy shell in many places.

The DOT had 100 pieces of equipment, including 70 snow plows, on the roads in the Triangle through the night. Trucks were spreading either ice-melting salt or a traction-increasing mix of salt and sand, Holmes said.

The City of Raleigh had 24 plows working the streets of the Capital City, and workers were on duty through the night to clear sidewalks and parking decks in heavily traveled areas. 

The National Guard was traveling interstates in Wake County Wednesday night to check on abandoned vehicles and offer rides to any drivers still on the roads. They were taking stranded drivers to shelters in Apex, Garner and Knightdale, where churches offered a warm place to stay the night.

The DOT has a set process for snow removal:

The DOT determines its priority order by: