A look at the impact the winter storm had on the Cape Fear region as it hit
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Winter weather began to hit the Cape Fear region late Saturday night.
Highway 17 is usually one of the busiest roads in Leland, but as snow began to fall, it was virtually empty during near whiteout conditions.
Highway 74-76 also had low visibility, with very few cars on the road after 8 pm, with about an inch of snow by then.
In downtown Wilmington, on Front and Market Street, it was a winter wonderland, with the lights on the trees glistening as the snow fell.
There was very little, if any, foot traffic, but James and Melanie Murphy did take the opportunity to don their ski gear.
Melanie said the storm brought back a lot of memories.
“I’m from Atlanta, and when I was in high school, the snow apocalypse happened, so we had school off for a week, so this is kinda reminiscent,” Melanie said.
Not many businesses were open downtown, with the exception of Dram and Draught.
David, the bartender, said tonight had already been one of the slowest nights of the year and had a message for anybody with an urge to venture downtown in this weather.
“Don’t go out. Bartenders don’t want to see you. Go home. Stay home,” David said.
And it seemed like customers at the Walmart on Sigmon Road heeded that warning.
The 24-hour store closed at 8 pm Saturday because of some weather-related staffing issues.
A bundled-up Chris Sikes, owner of Coastal Concepts Construction, was hired to clear the lot.
“It’s great, that, that’s what our business is built on is, is helping others in times of need and this just kind of plays into it,” Sikes said.
Sikes and his six-man crew will work through the night clearing the Walmart parking lot, along with 7 other businesses, into Sunday.
