THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 5, 1996 TAG: 9602050043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines
With little warning, winter frosted the Outer Banks with up to 6 inches of snow Saturday night and Sunday.
That was more snow than anyone had seen in the resort strip in at least six years.
North Carolina's barrier islands generally are pretty slow in early February. But when freezing rain and snow become part of the picture, the entire place pretty much shuts down.
``It doesn't happen here that often,'' said Steve Thompson, 16, who was four-wheeling behind the Wright Brothers Monument in a stiff snowfall Sunday afternoon. ``So when it does snow, it's a great excuse not to do anything - but have fun.''
Most businesses and restaurants that normally stay open on winter weekends shut down Sunday because of the snow. Radio announcers mentioned openings because the list of closings was too long.
Even the emergency medical care facility in Kitty Hawk kept its doors locked because of the bad weather.
Schools throughout northeast North Carolina will be closed today, and the storm canceled most church services Sunday. Some stores that opened Sunday were asked to close to keep people from venturing out on slippery roads.
Dare County offices and local court systems announced they would not open today.
Freezing rain began falling shortly before dusk Saturday, from Southern Shores through Roanoke Island. By dark, many Manteo and Nags Head residents were without power - and were left in the dark, without electric heat, for up to two hours. Late Saturday, the ice turned to snow, covering streets with 2 inches on the beach and as much as a half-foot on Colington and Roanoke islands.
Driving was hazardous. Ice remained invisible beneath the thick snow blanket. Few vehicles without four-wheel-drive ventured out.
Many of those that did slid or got stuck. Police said bridges were the most dangerous places.
Between Friday afternoon and 4 p.m. Sunday, North Carolina state troopers responded to 37 accidents in Dare and Currituck counties alone, Sgt. A.C. Joyner said. Normally, officers see an average of 12 accidents per weekend this time of year, he said. About 99 percent of this weekend's wrecks were weather-related.
``Our problem was with the ice and freezing rain. That's the worst-case scenario I can think of,'' Joyner said. ``That black ice it creates on the roads - you can't see it.''
``At least the snow, on top, adds a little traction. Highway road crews are salting all the streets 'round the clock. But those bridges can freeze up in a second, sending you into a spin.
``Unless you absolutely have to travel,'' said the patrolman, ``stay home.''
From Kitty Hawk through South Nags Head, few people were outdoors Sunday. Grocery stores, Kmart and some convenience outlets remained open. Clerks said they were selling lots of beer, batteries, film, flashlights and lamp oil.
``No one was ready for this. I don't even have an ice scraper in my car,'' Seamark Foods office manager Debbie Brevik said. ``But we've had a pretty stream of people in today. The only ones who were complaining were those who were planning to go home today from vacations and got stuck down here instead. I think they're ready for it all to be over.''
Those folks who were outside Sunday seemed to be reveling in the snow. Bundled-up couples held hands as they trudged, rubber booted, through the trackless side streets. Kids heaved snowballs from behind cars and bushes. And dogs leaped like serpents through the tall drifts, trying to keep their bellies from getting cold and wet.
In their family's front yard on the beach road in Kitty Hawk, Laramie Francis and his siblings were slowly building a snow fort. Red-cheeked and laughing, they didn't seem to mind the 20-degree temperatures or below-zero wind chill.
``It's so cool!'' said Laramie, 13, shoulder-deep in his building project.
``We moved here from Utah last year and didn't think we'd ever see snow again. This is great! I can't believe you get so much here, too!''
Laramie and his 7-year-old brother, Torin, were doing most of the work on the fort while their little sister, Sienna, inspected their progress - and taste-tested the construction materials. ``I like eating snow best,'' said Sienna, 4, stuffing a huge handful into her mouth. ``It tastes real good, Like
The grassy ridge in Kill Devil Hills that holds the Wright Brothers Monument seemed to be the hot spot on the Outer Banks for a frigid, snowy afternoon. At least three dozen youths of all ages were climbing the steep slope and sliding down the snow. Plastic dumpster lids, store-bought sleds, metal trash can tops - almost anything you could sit on - seemed to work.
Andy Flythe, 8, said boogie boards - with the fins removed, of course - were the best and fastest way to fly.
``It's cold. It's fun. And it's slippery up there,'' Andy said as he, his friend, parents and little brother wrapped themselves in blankets and headed back to their vehicle after a long day of sledding on the hill. ``I love playing in it when it's like this outside. Now, we're going back to ride our go-kart around. And school's out already for tomorrow. Don't you love snow?''
The heaviest concentrations in the northeast part of the state seemed to be on the Outer Banks. Elizabeth City, hard hit Saturday, escaped with less snow Sunday.
But the entire state suffered from the lingering storm.
By Sunday, temperatures had yet to bottom out. Lows Sunday night in the west were expected to be around 5 below zero. The state's warm spot? That would be the Outer Banks, where lows were forecast to be in the balmy-by-comparison 20s.
Three utilities serving North Carolina reported 295,000 customers were without power Sunday. Duke Power had 280,000 customers without power in North Carolina, including 63,000 in the Winston-Salem area; 52,000 in the Hickory area; and 23,000 in Charlotte.
Carolina Power & Light Co. reported 7,000 customers without service, half of them in the Asheville area. And North Carolina Power, which serves northeastern North Carolina, reported 8,000 customers without power.
The cold was the result of a high pressure system building over the Southeast and pulling Arctic air into the state, said Ruth Aiken, meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
By Wednesday, highs will be in the 50s across much of the state, with some 40s in the west, Aiken said.
The forecast caused Aiken to indulge in a well-worn, but accurate, cliche: ``It's going to get worse before it gets better.''
A record low of 23 degrees was set Saturday at Piedmont Triad International Airport near Greensboro. The previous record low for Feb. 3 was 26 degrees in 1961.
Ten deaths were attributed to the weather.
ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/ The Virginian-Pilot
On a sandy hill that rarely sees much snow, Mike O'Brien, 41, of
Nags Head, got out his skis to slide from top to bottom of Kill
Devil Hill at the Wright Brothers Monument Sunday. Most businesses
and restaurants that normally stay open on winter weekends shut down
Sunday because of the surprise snow.
KEYWORDS: WEATHER by CNB