The Wildest Ice/cold Events

[Onslow]

The Great Sleet event of 1987

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/html/tr/ADA250184/index.html

This one was a trip. 7 inches of sleet in Franklinton NC and even more in Henderson.

Sleet pebbles bounced down steep roofs and piled up on porch roofs causing much damage.  Many boat shelters collapsed.  Driving was impossible. The Massey F 135 tractor could not go through this stuff forward.  Only reverse.  It was a waiting game.  I don't recall it being terribly frigid after the event, but it still took forever for this to melt.

If these types of totals are seen tomorrow, probably looking at 2 weeks before meaningful thawing will take place.

The coldest widespread power outage in Central NC occured 1996. 2.5 inches of snow, sleet, freezing rain.  The day after warmed to 19 degrees followed by two consecutive nights of -2.  Generators weren't as commonplace then.  When the heat kicked on, furnaces ran for nearly 12-24 hours straight. The dry air in the homes caused mouldings and drywall to shrink.  Tons of cosmetic damage to ornate homes due to the extreme dry air. It was so cold in my house the commodes froze over. Some in Lenior reportedly lost power for 2 weeks.

There were some localized long term power outages in Moore County after the big snow of 2000. 

The 2002 Ice Storm .75 of ice all over the Triangle.  Folks woke up in their bedrooms with tree limbs thrusted through their ceiling drywall. Some experienced house damage and all their cars were crushed as well. Power was out for 5 days at my place, but some were out for 2 weeks. My son was only 6 months old and my wife went to spend the week with him in Surry County while I juggled a generator between my house and my MIL's place.

[Onslow]

Dang it.  Shoveling sleet off the roof in anticipation of rain.  1000 pounds of water soaked sleet from rains to come later in the day seems like trouble. I have sleet build up 2' deep on my porch roof.

[driver]

I just finished shoveling off the boat covers. 3 inch thick ice sheets will definitely destroy a boat cover. Looking like the ice accumulation wont be so bad on the trees and power lines. Hopefully we will make it through the night with power.