Back-to-Back Storms Overwhelm Region (Image Credits: Flickr)
The Carolinas endured another punishing winter event as a bomb cyclone unleashed heavy snow across North Carolina and South Carolina on January 31, 2026.[1][2]
Back-to-Back Storms Overwhelm Region
Residents faced a rare double punch from winter weather. Just a week earlier, freezing rain and sleet coated parts of the Carolinas with up to 0.30 inches of ice in Robeson County, North Carolina, leading to slick roads and scattered power outages.[3] Schools closed, and bridges iced over in areas like Wilmington and Florence, South Carolina. The latest storm shifted to snow, blanketing every county in both states.[1]
Western North Carolina saw four to nine inches accumulate by early afternoon. Charlotte recorded several inches, approaching a foot in spots, while coastal zones eyed up to 10 inches.[2] This intensity stunned a region more accustomed to mild winters. Gusty winds amplified the chaos, creating near-whiteout conditions.[4]
Travel Nightmares Grip Highways and Airports
Roads turned treacherous as snow piled up. North Carolina troopers reported 176 crashes from midnight to 9 a.m. alone, with no fatalities but widespread delays.[1] Interstate 85 near Charlotte snarled for hours after a non-injury wreck backed up semis into the evening. South Carolina officials urged drivers to stay home amid similar hazards.[2]…