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North Carolina Faces Record Snowfall, 750 Collisions Reported

2/1/2026

50 12 Full Breakdown

Center

Governor Stein Responds

A winter storm covers all 100 North Carolina counties, with Governor Josh Stein reporting record snowfall and Lexington at 16 inches.
Hazardous travel conditions have caused 750 collisions, including a multi-vehicle incident on I-85 with over 100 vehicles.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation deployed 2,500 workers to clear roads.
Cleanup could take up to a week, with single-digit lows and bitter cold to follow.

Left

Governor Stein Acts

A bomb cyclone is impacting the southeastern United States with blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says the storm intensified off North Carolina and may drop snow across the Carolinas.
The storm could reach Florida’s Gulf Coast for the first time in a decade.
North Carolina has a State of Emergency, and officials urge residents to stay off the roads as the storm advances.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888, occurring from March 11-14, paralyzed the northeastern United States, causing over 400 fatalities and prompting significant advancements in weather forecasting by the U.S. Weather Bureau. This historical event highlighted the need for improved emergency response and infrastructure resilience, lessons that resonate today as North Carolina faces severe winter storms and hazardous travel conditions.

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Governor Stein Responds

A winter storm covers all 100 North Carolina counties, with Governor Josh Stein reporting record snowfall and Lexington at 16 inches.
Hazardous travel conditions have caused 750 collisions, including a multi-vehicle incident on I-85 with over 100 vehicles.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation deployed 2,500 workers to clear roads.
Cleanup could take up to a week, with single-digit lows and bitter cold to follow.

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