WNC Covered In Snow (Asheville, NC)
Western North Carolina is buried under a blanket of snow this morning. Winter Storm Diego dropped snow in some portions of the state that exceeded season averages. WLOS-TV reported that Lake Toxaway in Transylvania County saw two feet of the white stuff, while plenty of other locations along the mountains received well over a foot. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 2 p.m.
Widespread Power Outages Across State (Asheville, NC)
Around 150-thousand residents in Western North Carolina and across the Piedmont are without power this morning. The outages and dangerous road conditions have forced school closures today. Emergency officials are warning that re-freezing is likely on primary roads this morning as temperatures hover around the freezing mark. Over 21-hundred flights across the country were canceled from the wintry blast and over 13-thousand were delayed late last night.
DOT, Public Works Clearing Roads (Asheville, NC)
DOT crews and Asheville Public Works are out clearing roads. The city has an interactive map called the Snow Mapper on its government website where residents can check road priorities on plowing. Officials have asked that any cars be parked off the roads to give plows clearance. City-owned garages have free parking until eight Tuesday morning.
Suspect In Aguilar's Death In Court Today (Robeson County, NC)
The man suspected of kidnapping and killing a 13-year-old North Carolina girl is set to appear in court today. The FBI said Michael Ray McClellan was already in custody on unrelated charges when he was slapped with ten felony counts in connection with Hania Aguilar's death. Her body was found in late November, more than three weeks after she was kidnapped from the driveway of her home in Lumberton. McClellan is detained in Robeson County without bond.
Suspect In Asheville Woman's Death Pleads Guilty In Another (Asheville, NC)
A North Carolina man accused of killing an Asheville woman is facing a possible life sentence for another murder. Donald Gray entered a guilty plea last week in the stabbing death of a former sheriff in Billings, Montana. He was arrested for the crime around two weeks after Tamra Gibson was found dead in Kansas in late May. Gibson had been reported missing from her home just days before and Gray still faces charges in her death.
Police Look For Hendersonville Bank Robber (Hendersonville, NC)
Hendersonville Police are looking for a bank robbery suspect. Investigators said he came into the Entegra Bank on Spartanburg Highway on Friday afternoon with a gun. He got away with some cash. No one was reported injured.
Forecasters: Raleigh Roads In Danger Of Refreezing (Raleigh, NC)
Roads in the Raleigh-Durham region remain treacherous as the winter storm moves out. This weekend the region saw snowfall totals ranging from six to 14 inches. Snow and rainfall at the RDU airport broke two daily records. Forecasters say drivers should take extra care this morning as there is a good chance of the roads refreezing. Black ice will be a major concern for most mornings this week.
Flights Canceled Due To Winter Storm (Undated)
Air travel in Raleigh and across the United States is being heavily disrupted from the winter storm. The Raleigh-Durham airport had to cancel nearly 250 flights yesterday, and that number was closer to one-thousand for all airports in North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency and air travel remains affected today.
Divers Search River For A Missing Trucker (Kinston, NC)
Divers are searching the Neuse River for a missing truck driver. Deputies say a tractor-trailer hit a bridge guardrail in Kinston and went into the river. WITN reports that the dive team found the cab of the truck yesterday, but the driver wasn't in the cab. Part of U.S. 70 and 258 were closed overnight, and may remain closed until the damaged guardrail can be fixed.