Winter is still two weeks away, but central North Carolina could get a preview this weekend.

Meteorologists are tracking a storm expected to move into the Tar Heel State and begin impacting Orange County and the surrounding area late Saturday and into Sunday.

Orange County Emergency Services emergency management coordinator Kirby Saunders said county officials are monitoring the storm as it approaches.

“As is typically the case, Orange County seems to be stuck in the middle,” Saunders said, “between a potential rain area, a wintry mix and-or potentially snow.”

Orange County is near the dividing line that could see either a significant snowstorm or more rain that snow.

“Don’t focus on necessarily what and how much will fall,” Saunders advised, “but focus on the impacts from any winter weather.”

The county sees an uptick in injuries from trips, slips and falls during wintry storms, Saunders said.

Saunders added the county is preparing for the storm in order to respond and coordinate with towns across the county.

This first chance of wintry weather also happens to come during Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Saunders said it is an important time to prepare not only for the approaching potential storm but for the winter as a whole, which means preparing a kit of food, water, medicine and other materials to last for three days.

That should include family members, pets and others, according to Saunders.

“Folks that may have neighbors who are unable to prepare themselves, we would encourage people to make an effort to help their neighbor or friend or relatives.”

Officials advise that a version of those emergency kits should be kept in vehicles as well. Residents are encouraged to stay off the road Sunday and into Monday, depending on the conditions, if possible.

After the storm, Saunders said it is important to only use proper equipment to heat your home.

“When the temps drop, people bring additional heating sources into their home; they plug in additional space heaters or they use unsafe practices to heat their home.”

Saunders said to avoid using your oven as a heating source and to avoid bringing in items that will bring carbon monoxide into residences.

File photo from 2016 storm in Orange County

Related Stories
‹
Winter Weather Causing Delays Tuesday
Wintry precipitation fell throughout the day on Monday, causing local schools and government offices to close early. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday due to the threat of black ice, and that has caused several delays. Alamance – Burlington Schools will operate on a three-hour delay Tuesday, March 13. Chapel […]
Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Orange County
The possibility of rain transitioning to a wintry mix has prompted a winter weather advisory for Orange County. The advisory from the National Weather Service in Raleigh is set to be in place from through 10 p.m. on Monday. Weather officials say that a mixture of rain, sleet and wet snow could cause slippery road […]
Chapel Hill Forecasts Wave of Wintry Weather
In planning for the coming weekend, Chapel Hill residents should be prepared for rapidly dropping temperatures and a considerable chance of snow and freezing rain. In a surprising shift, seeing as Chapel Hill’s high temperatures over the past weeks have hovered around highs in the mid-sixties and lows in the mid-to-high forties, temperatures tomorrow are […]
I-40 West Reopened in Orange County
I-40 westbound lanes have reopened.**** Westbound lanes of I-40 are closed on Saturday afternoon due to a wreck. Officials have been encouraging residents to stay off of the roads, if at all possible, due to hazardous conditions from a winter storm that dumped varying amounts of snow across central North Carolina Friday night into […]
The Morning News: Glenwood Elementary Closing, Orange County Finalizes Budget, UNC Baseball Hosts Super Regional
In today's news: the CHCCS school board votes to shut down Glenwood Elementary after the upcoming school year.
Carrboro Man Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation. 42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual […]
Conversations We Need to Have: Paul Slack on Juneteenth in Orange County
Orange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul Slack spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, June 1st. They spoke about the national recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and an opportunity to celebrate progress. Additionally, they discussed the upcoming Orange County Juneteenth celebrations happening in Hillsborough on June 12th. 
Local Government Meetings: June 1-5, 2026
This week in local government: budget decisions for Orange County, Carrboro, and Durham, and the final vote on a CHCCS school closure.
Facing Pressures In All Directions, Orange County Commissioners Near Budget Decision
Orange County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on next year's budget Thursday, May 28, with major decisions yet to be made.
Orange County: Budget Amendments, Memorial Day, Upcoming Public Hearing
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, May 27, discussing county news and events. She discussed the recent movement on the budget, which as seen a flurry of amendments as commissioners and staff try to reconcile some tough budget choices without raising property taxes. She also previewed the upcoming public hearing on the budget, reviewed Memorial Day events in our community, and more.
›