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Wednesday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day because we expect snow and sleet throughout our viewing area. During an emergency briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency. 

Wake schools closed, state of emergency: Winter storm ahead âï¸ WRAL Weather Alert Days issued Wednesday & Thursday

I'm meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner tracking a significant winter storm for our area. We'll look at where it is right now and starting to see a good bit of snow spreading across parts of the west, and the plains, even into the Midwest. Notice the low where Texas is. That low will dip southward toward the Gulf of Mexico, and tomorrow right up the coast, and that's what's going to bring us our chance for wintry precipitation. Here's a bit of a look here. We have our WRL snowfall forecast, and you can see the heavier amounts are Likely to be to the north. Um, and then, you know, if, if I would to maybe turn this slightly sideways, um, more of the heavy snow is likely to be from, say, Wilson to Rocky Mount to Warrenton to South Hill and maybe back towards Raleigh. Uh, so we may be tweaking the map just a little bit. Brand new runs of the computer models just came in and starting to see maybe some heavier amounts of snow. Once you get to Smithfield, Sanford, Lillington, Goldsboro. Still looking at that mainly being some uh sleet and maybe even some freezing rain. As a matter of fact, here's our freezing rain forecast. Um, and of course, the slick roads are going to be a major impact. But the other big impact with this is going to be power outages that will happen where we have the freezing rain. Of course, freezing rain is the raindrop that falls and it becomes an icy glaze on power lines, trees that starts to fall and causes the power outages. And right now it looks like the, um, worst case scenario is going to Smithfield, Goldsboro, Lillington fable to Clinton for that potential for enough ice to cause some power outages. Let's talk through this with futurecast and show you sort of what the timeline looks like tomorrow morning. It's likely to be pretty dry. They're going to be people I think that look outside and say, hey, nothing's happening out there. I'm gonna go to work and wait till it starts. Well, if you do that, most likely what's going to happen is you're going to be clogging the roads with, you know, thousands of other people and we get gridlock and that I've seen that. Happen multiple times with the storms that don't start until around lunchtime. So don't do it. Don't stay out until it starts to snow because the roads will get bad pretty quickly. Likely to have more snow showers with us after a lull overnight, even tomorrow morning there or Thursday morning, I should say, could be uh the potential for some additional freezing there. How about road conditions? So the road conditions will deteriorate late morning up until around lunchtime. Snow and ice will still be lingering lingering on the roads on Thursday because it will still be cold, and then on Friday, there's still likely to be some school delays, just keep that in mind, parents who are making plans. After that, we should start to dry out and see some melting.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Wintry mix potential for Wake County on Wednesday, Feb. 19

Stein declares state of emergency ahead of winter weather

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein

Q&A: What to expect from Wednesday's winter storm in North Carolina

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Raleigh police officer shot in the line of duty moved out of ICU

Max Gillick was hospitalized after a shootout on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Raleigh's Renaissance Park neighborhood.

Person County man recovering after getting mauled by rabid bobcat

The attack happened just steps from Greg Slaughter's home near Mayo Lake. Slaughter suffered bites, scrapes and claw marks "from the waist up," he said. 

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WASHINGTON (AP) â Republicans are weighing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, threatening health care coverage for some of the 80 million U.S. adults and children enrolled in the safety net program.

Republicans consider cuts and work requirements for Medicaid, jeopardizing care for millions

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A look at the timeline for a winter storm that will affect North Carolina on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

Photos: When to expect winter weather in NC Wednesday, Thursday

Futurecast for Feb. 19, 2025

ROME (AP) â Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said Tuesday, after new tests showed a further complication in the condition of the 88-year-old pontiff that raised concerns about his ability to fight off the infection.

The pope has pneumonia in both lungs but remains in good spirits, the Vatican says

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Riverside High School was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning, days after authorities responded to a separate lockdown on campus.

Riverside High School lockdown lifted

Riverside High School lockdown

The Social Security Administration 's acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official's departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: AP sources

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Dennis Draughon, Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Griffin recount demands. Mockery or democracy?

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Griffin recount demands.  Mockery or democracy? 

TORONTO (AP) -- A Delta Air Lines jet flipped on its roof while landing Monday at Toronto's Pearson Airport, but all 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries, the airport's chief executive said.

Delta jet flips upside down on a snowy Toronto runway and all 80 aboard survive

Emergency teams respond to overturned plane at Toronto airport

A man remains on the run Monday after police arrested and charged two other men they say robbed an Apex business before crashing days earlier.

'A frightening moment': Police searching for third suspect after wild chase & crash Saturday in Apex

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A severe winter storm is set to impact travel across North Carolina this week, with snow, ice and freezing rain predicted. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has already begun treating roads with brine.


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Driving in the snow and ice on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2025.

When 5 On Your Side asked how much an Avery County couple got from their home insurance provider, they answered, "Zero. They hadn't looked at the property, nothing, they just made that decision."


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Tatums' property in Avery County

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WRAL 5 On Your Side is taking on the problems plaguing western North Carolina.



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A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will make for an impactful winter storm in our area on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

"He said, 'Peggy, our lines are breaking up. I think I better go because we're going to get shut off.'" That was the last time she ever spoke to her husband.

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Peggy Williams holds sign of her missing husband, Lenny Widawski

Deep Creek Outfitters NC said on Facebook that it was the largest fish ever caught on the Cape Fear River. The blue catfish weighed in at 100lbs and measured 57.5" in length - that's nearly 5 feet long.

100-pound blue catfish caught in Cape Fear River

It was the morning of Valentine's Day when Special Operations staff spotted a small, shivering puppy hiding behind a toolbox and some boards on a concrete slab.

Raleigh Transportation team rescues abandoned puppy found hiding behind toolbox

Raleigh Transportation worker rescues abandoned puppy

Among the idyllic landscapes of Mount Ulla, North Carolina, there is a sadness wafting through the community where two mules and a horse that carried supplies to victims of Hurricane Helene were hit and killed last weekend.


Mules that provided aid after Hurricane Helene struck down on road

Mules helene supplies

Don't Miss It

WRAL's Pet of the Day for Feb. 18, 2025, comes from www.redbarnrescue.com.

Pet of the Day: Feb. 18

Documents needed to obtain a "Real ID" ahead of the deadline 

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Skiing tourism keeps western NC economy afloat after Helene

Skiiers at Sugar Mountain Resort

NCDOT crews prepare to shift from prep to response to tricky winter storm

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NCDOT truck brining roads in Wake County.

Video Central

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'Where's the money?' Aid available to western NC pales in comparison to need

Local News

Return to normalcy: Local Boone businesses welcome visitors back this winter season

Sleds are scarce in Raleigh ahead of winter weather: Find out where we tracked some down

One person forced out of Durham home after early morning fire on Liberty Street

EMS: Truck carrying meat from Smithfield Foods crashes, catches fire Monday night in Sampson County

Hamas says it will free 6 living hostages and hand over 4 bodies, accelerating Gaza releases

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Dying to serve: Dozens of recruits have died nationwide while training to become police officers

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Raleigh skyline from Boylan Street. Photo taken May 22, 2021. 

Weekend best bets: Steve Martin and Martin Short, Raleigh Blues Fest

Steve Martin Bluegrass

Smothered and covered in love: Raleigh Waffle House offers romantic dinner for Valentine's Day

Waffle House's Valentines Day dinner

Prime Barbecue pitmaster Christopher Prieto has barbecue down to a science

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'Love Durham' campaign wants people to show their pride

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Fact-checking Warren's claim about RFK Jr.'s work on vaccine lawsuits

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NC Capitol

Transformer manufacturer to add 217 jobs in Hoke County

Helene aid vote canceled in NC House due to incoming winter weather

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No. 3 Duke beats Virginia, but loses Maliq Brown to shoulder injury

Sweden tops U.S. 2-1 in 4 Nations round robin. The Americans had already clinched a spot in final

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When 5 On Your Side asked how much an Avery County couple got from their home insurance provider, they answered, "Zero. They hadn't looked at the property, nothing, they just made that decision."

In the wake of WRAL's eye-opening documentary, "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina," state lawmakers are pledging urgent action to overhaul the troubled foster care system. 

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The U.S. Department of Defense's new military moving program, managed by HomeSafe Alliance under the Global Household Goods Contract, is facing challenges as it begins to take over servicemember relocations.

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A file photo of moving trucks.

President Donald Trump has long expressed a desire to dismantle the federal agency that distributes public education dollars to schools across the nation. The idea is opposed by 63% of voters, while 30% of voters support it. 

Poll: Most in NC oppose shutting down US Department of Education

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One week after the premiere of our WRAL Documentary "Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina," lawmakers are vowing to change things. Friday at 6 p.m., WRAL's investigative documentary reporter Cristin Severance explains what changes legislators are pushing for this year to keep foster kids safe.

After WRAL documentary 'Broken' exposes flaws in foster care system, NC lawmakers vow to make changes

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Lillington driver billed for toll route she never took

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'Happens in seconds:' FBI warns of rise in 'sextortion' targeting kids as young as seven

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State dental board warns of people posing as dentists

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TikTok returns to Apple and Google app stores

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WRAL TechWire

Southwest Airlines is slashing 15% of its corporate workforce, its first major layoffs in 53 years

How Trump's 1-for-1 tariff plan threatens the global economy

'Captain America: Brave New World' soars toward a $100 million holiday weekend

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Powerball

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Amanda Lamb: Why aren't we talking about it?

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Go Ask Dad: Flu remix

Snow business: Milk, bread and the economics of winter weather

Here are the best places to sled in Raleigh, Durham, Cary

Parents can now sign up kids for summer camps in Raleigh

Amazon Deals: Hanes Men's Heavyweight T-Shirts 2 Pk up to size 4XL only $11.54 (50% off), Glitter Gel Pens 12 Pk only $4.99, Hanes Boys Fleece Sweatpants only $9.80

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Sam's Club 12-Month Membership only $20 (60% off)

Where can I find the best prices on grocery staples this week?

Top grocery deals valid Feb. 12-18

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