Snow-Covered North Carolina Visible From Space as Clearing Skies Trigger Dangerous Refreeze Overnight
NORTH CAROLINA — Skies cleared across much of the state Sunday afternoon, allowing satellites to capture a rare and striking view of North Carolina’s snowpack from space. The imagery clearly shows widespread snow cover across inland areas, while clouds remain concentrated offshore over the Atlantic. Meteorologists say the view underscores just how extensive the snowpack remains, even as surface conditions briefly improved during daylight hours.
Clearing Skies Increase Overnight Refreeze Risk
While sunshine helped melt some snow and ice during the afternoon, conditions are expected to turn dangerous again overnight. As temperatures fall after sunset, anything that melted during the day will refreeze, creating widespread black ice on untreated roads, bridges, and sidewalks.
Officials are strongly advising residents to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary, particularly late Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Roads Remain Hazardous Despite Improved Visibility
Despite clearer skies, road conditions have not fully recovered. Snowpack remains in place on many secondary and rural roads, and refreezing will sharply reduce traction overnight.
Emergency officials warn that black ice will be especially hard to detect, particularly in shaded areas and on elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses.
Satellite Imagery Confirms the Storm’s Historic Footprint
The satellite image captured Sunday night shows a sharp contrast between:
- Snow-covered inland North Carolina
- Cloud-covered Atlantic waters offshore
Meteorologists note that seeing the Carolinas’ snowpack this clearly from space is uncommon, highlighting the scale and intensity of the winter storm that impacted the region.
Safety Reminder for Residents
Residents across North Carolina are urged to:
- Avoid nighttime and early-morning travel
- Use extreme caution on roads and sidewalks
- Allow extra time for essential travel
- Monitor local advisories for updated road conditions
Cabarrus Weekly will continue monitoring overnight conditions and provide updates as refreezing impacts develop across the region.
