The snow has started back up in Orange County Monday morning and road conditions across the county are deteriorating quickly. Monday’s snow comes after Winter Storm Diego rolled through central North Carolina early Sunday morning leaving several inches of snow in its wake.

Cold rain throughout Sunday and into early Monday helped emergency crews clear some major roadways. But those roads were quickly becoming covered with snow on Monday as heavy snow fell once again.

School districts across central North Carolina are closed Monday due to the storm.

Overall, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said the county is “in good shape.” He added that many residents seemed to heed the warning to stay off the roads on Sunday, but he reiterated that those same cautions extended into Monday.

If you must drive, Blackwood said, stay well below the speed limit and maintain a safe distance with other motorists.

The sheriff encouraged residents to check in on neighbors and those who may be in need as the snow continued to pile up on Monday. If you know of someone who may need assistance, you can also contact the sheriff’s office.

“We’ve got a group of volunteers and a team of community outreach folks that go out into the communities and do what we can to solve problems for folks,” Blackwood said. “So, if you know somebody that’s in a serious situation, without power or without heat, let us know about it, and we’ll either get them to a place or get a heat source to them that is safe.”

Emergency management officials continue to encourage residents to only use safe heating sources and not bring in anything from outside that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

There are nearly 2,000 Orange County customers without power on Monday morning; that number is down from a peak of nearly 5,000.

Related Stories
‹
Winter Storm Diego Prompts Closures Across Orange County
Central North Carolina has continued to deal with closings and delays in the aftermath of Winter Storm Diego dropping several inches of snow across the area. The storm has caused some closings and delays across our community: Alamance – Burlington Schools will be closed for students on Friday, December 14. Teacher workday. Orange County Schools […]
Fewer than 400 Remain Without Power in Orange County
Tuesday UPDATE: Duke Energy reported that most outages in Orange County were restored by early Tuesday morning; there were just under 400 Duke Energy customers without power. Piedmont Electric reported that all of the power outages affecting its customers had been restored. — 9 p.m. Monday UPDATE: Most power outages have been restored […]
Orange County Under Winter Storm Warning
Orange County and much of central North Carolina is under a Winter Storm Warning due to Winter Storm Diego. The storm left much of Orange County coated with a thick layer of snow Sunday morning with more precipitation expected to fall throughout the morning. Snow could switch over to ice and rain later in the […]
NCDOT: I-85 Ramp to I-40 in Orange County to Close for 2 Months
NCDOT construction crews are preparing to close the exit ramp for Exit 163 along I-85 South — a ramp west of Hillsborough that loops vehicles over the interstate and redirects them onto I-40 East.
Local Government Meetings: September 14-18, 2026
This week in local government: a greenway network in Chapel Hill, and busing concerns and elementary school redistricting for CHCCS.
Orange County: Preview of Work Session, Retreat, and Business Meeting
Chair of the Orange County Commissioner Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 9, discussing county news and events. She previewed several upcoming gatherings of the Orange County Commissioners over the next week, which includes a Thursday work session, a Monday retreat and a regular Tuesday meeting. She also previewed upcoming events and more.
What's Open or Closed on Labor Day? Holiday to Impact Local Government Services
Monday marks the observance of Labor Day, which is meant to celebrate the contribution of workers and employees across the United States. With that, the local governments in Orange County will be giving many of their employees the day off, which will affect certain local government services. Ahead of the holiday on Monday, Sep. 7, […]
The Morning News: Orange County Honors Jamezetta Bedford, Michael Lombardi Resigns
In today's news: Orange County names its new crisis diversion facility after the late County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford.
'A Beautiful and Lasting Tribute': New Orange County Crisis Diversion Center Named in Jamezetta Bedford's Honor
Jamezetta Bedford's Orange County commissioner colleagues recently dedicated the future crisis diversion facility in her honor and memory.
Orange County: Crisis Diversion Center Named for Jamezetta Bedford, and More
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jean Hamilton spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 2, discussing county news and events. She recapped the recent meeting of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, which included the formal decision to name the county's new Crisis Diversion Center after late board member Jamezetta Bedford. That building is due to be constructed in the near future. She also outlined the purpose and origin of the facility, discussed the appointment of Amy McLamb to the role of Register of Deeds, and more.
›