UPDATE: This article has been updated on Thursday, February 18, to most accurately reflect weather forecasts.

Orange County declared a state of emergency Wednesday ahead of expected severe winter weather set to begin overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Orange County is one of several North Carolina counties under a winter storm warning for the coming days, according to the National Weather Service. The declaration from the county government encourages residents to avoid travel if possible and to prepare for power outages caused by freezing rain.

While North Carolina has largely been spared by the extreme winter weather that hit the middle of North America this week, weather forecasts for Thursday include cold temperatures and rain, which could create a dangerous mix. Issued early Wednesday morning, the winter storm warning for the central region of the state alerts people of “significant icing.”

The National Weather Service forecasts the region could see ice accumulations from one-quarter inch to one-half inch, which could have severe impacts on travel and regional power. Outages and poor driving conditions are to be expected from the freezing rain, which is forecast to largely fall Thursday morning.

Additionally, forecasts for Thursday call for strong wind that could fell trees, which also contributes to the likelihood of local power outages and challenges while driving.

While Chatham County and Wake County are not among the regions issued a winter storm warning, both are under a winter weather advisory for Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, Wake County is under a flood watch from the agency until Saturday morning due to the predicted rainfall through Thursday and Friday. As of Wednesday night, Orange and Chatham County were predicted to see nearly two inches of precipitation.

For those in the affected regions who have to travel during the warning, the national agency recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency.

The National Weather Service’s warning will be in effect until 7 a.m. on Friday.

 

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

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