After several years without snowfall in Cumberland County, residents can expect up to half an inch of snow this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. 

The NWS issued a winter weather advisory beginning Friday at 1 p.m. and ending Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Fayetteville area, forecasting a 100% chance of snow and freezing rain Friday night. 

A winter weather advisory is issued when snow, sleet or freezing rain is possible. According to the NWS, expected snowfall in Fayetteville is 0.4 inches — about the length of a grain of rice — which is likely to occur mainly after 5 p.m. Friday and through the night. Areas in the northern part of the county could see up to half an inch of snow. 

The NWS is warning residents to be cautious when driving during the storm. 

“Be prepared for slippery roads,” the weather advisory states. “Slow down and use caution while driving. If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.”

The City of Fayetteville and N.C. Department of Transportation are doing maintenance work to prepare the roads for the coming storm.

“City street crews began applying brine to city-owned parking lots and bridges Wednesday morning and will continue treating roads through Friday afternoon, along with NCDOT,” the City of Fayetteville stated in a Thursday Facebook post. “City crews will be on standby throughout the winter storm.”

The Public Works Commission suggests residents keep water lines insulated and look around their homes for pipes located in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes should be insulated in these areas. 

The city and county have opened warming shelters during the day from Friday through Monday. These include: 

  • Cumberland County Department of Social Services – auxiliary lobby (1225 Ramsey St.)
  • Cumberland County Department of Public Health – first floor lobby (1235 Ramsey St.)
  • All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations
  • Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers – lobbies
  • Fayetteville Area System of Transit – lobby (505 Franklin St.)

The county has also opened White Flag shelters for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights at: 

  • True Vine Ministries J Center (5315 Morganton Road)
  • Cornerstone Christian Empowerment Center (111 N. Bragg Blvd.)

The following government buildings and public institutions are closed or have adjusted schedules because of the storm: 

  • Cumberland County Schools will be remote on Friday, and students will work independently on assignments provided by their teachers. All after-school activities, including athletic practices and events scheduled for Friday and Saturday, are canceled. The Prime Time After-School program will also be closed. 
  • Fayetteville Area System of Transit service will end at 5 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, FAST services will begin at 10 a.m. and end at the usual time.
  • City of Fayetteville recycling and household waste will start collections as early as 5:30 a.m. on Friday. No yard waste will be collected. Yard waste is set to resume as normal next week.
  • Passengers who are traveling with the Fayetteville Regional Airport are encouraged to contact their airline directly for any questions on travel and/or flight schedules.
  • Cumberland County government officers will close at 2 p.m. on Friday.
  • Fort Liberty will operate on an early release at 1 p.m. on Friday. All service members need to contact their chain of command for specific guidance.
  • Some Fort Liberty access control points are closing Friday at 2 p.m., including Rock Merritt, Canopy, Manchester, Butner, and MMD (Knox). The following access control points will remain open: All American, R. Miller, Knox (Truck Plaza), Long Street, Chicken, Simmons, Honeycutt, Yadkin, and Linden Oaks.

Current power outages: 

  • 1 customer

Cumberland County’s Emergency Services warns residents to be aware of the risk of home-heating fires while waiting out the storm. To be prepared: 

  • Plug in only one heat-producing appliance, like a space heater, into an electrical outlet at a time. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters.
  • Purchase a portable generator if able, but make sure to operate it outside, away from windows and as far away from your house as possible.
  • Install and test a carbon monoxide alarm, since the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is highest in the winter due to fuel-burning devices.

Check out additional winter weather tips from PWC and the City of Fayetteville.

This article will be updated as new information becomes available. 

Contact Evey Weisblat at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608. This story was made possible by donations from readers like you to CityView News Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Evey Weisblat is a journalist with five years of experience in local news reporting. She has previously worked at papers in central North Carolina, including The Pilot and the Chatham News + Record. Her central beat is government accountability reporting, covering the Fayetteville City Council.