Winter blast freezes roads, beaches

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Winter weather continues affecting New Hanover County roads and even the beaches, where sun and sand were replaced by snow and ice.

It wasn’t quite a blizzard, but it definitely was not a great beach day in Wrightsville Beach. This morning snow mostly accumulated on the bridges, but since then that snow has turned to rain and ice.

“We just saw it through the window, and I was like, ‘Uh, I think I’ll roll around in bed a little bit longer.’ Ha!” Wrightsville Beach resident Marc Felton said.

But with a slight increase in temperature, that snow quickly turned to sleet and rain replacing the snow with ice.

Wrightsville Beach resident Rolf Gronneberg says this is not his ideal beach weather.

“I’m from Rhode Island, so I’m used to, you know, lots of snow in the winter, but I come down here to get a little warmer,” he said. “Sunday was beautiful, but today is a little messy.”

The freezing rain meant icy road causing accidents across New Hanover County.

NCDOT spokesman Brian Rick says crews continue sanding and salting bridges as needed while focusing on I-40. Rick says a car even rear ended a dump truck while it was spreading salt. He says drivers need to avoid the roads or be extra cautious.

“I mean a seriously safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you, because you want to allow yourself a chance to slow down without slamming your brakes,” Rick said. “If you hit the brakes, you know, on a patch of road that’s frozen, you’re going to go into a skid.”

But beach residents like Margaux Kerr just want their toes in the warm sand.

“I don’t really like it. I’d rather be in my bathing suit,” she said.

As the temperature drops, Rick says the DOT is prepared with salt and sand, but he does warn drivers to watch out for black ice.