Hey, it's Brian Shrader from WRAL! For traffic updates, follow @wraltraffic!

Joined March 2009
107 Photos and videos
5/7/26: Canvas down in widespread outage as hackers demand ransom @wral
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Ready for a downright beautiful display of fluid dynamics? The Fujiwhara effect between two mid-latitude cyclones in the North Pacific.
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DETAILED post-storm analysis. What went wrong with the forecast? • stronger pre-frontal trough than modeled • more Carolina “crapvection” than expected • southerly, rather than SSE, surface winds • slightly more capping • extra surface moisture

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2/26/26: New details, charge in deadly #Garner shooting
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2/9/26: 650 roosters found in cockfighting investigation, deputies say @WRAL
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2/2/26: Winter weather chances for Wednesday. #raleigh #durham
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2/1/26: Statewide snow totals from this weirdo storm. Look at ENC! #ncwx
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1/31/26 11pm: More snow totals (so far) #ncwx @WRAL
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1/31/26 10:40pm: Snow totals…so far @WRAL #raleigh
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1/31/26 4:15p UPDATE: Snow chances aren’t done yet! #raleigh #durham @WRAL
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1/31/26 10:30am: Updated snow potential forecast.
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1/29/26 UPDATE: Winter Storm Watch in effect #raleigh #ncwx @WRAL
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1/28/26 Afternoon Update: Good chances of measurable snow this weekend. #Raleigh #Durham
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1/28/26 AM UPDATE: Good chance for snow this weekend, but uncertainty remains. #raleigh @wral
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1/27/26: Chances of seeing at least 1 inch of snow this weekend #raleigh #durham @WRAL
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1/27/26: Crews battle house fire north of #raleigh @WRAL
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1/26/26: Winter storm possible this weekend in NC
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1/26/26: Watch for icy roads Tuesday morning
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well said
So, what actually fell? Here are the final accumulation totals, broken down by precipitation type. Note that sleet and snow totals are combined for this analysis, while ice (freezing rain) is tracked separately. The region's saving grace was a shift in the precipitation mix: we saw slightly more sleet than freezing rain. This was the preferred scenario, as it significantly reduced ice load on trees and power lines compared to a pure freezing rain event. This was a very odd storm, with super-cold surface air and very warm air above. The cold air near the surface was so cold and shallow that it was still able to refreeze raindrops before landing; in some odd cases, snow was created in the lowest 2,000', not in the cloud. Very rare and the opposite of normal Forecast Criteria Status Verdict Major Winter Storm✅Verified The system produced significant wintry precipitation across the area. Timing⚠️Mostly Verified Arrival and departure times were generally accurate, with minor deviations. Hazardous Travel✅Verified Road conditions deteriorated as predicted, leading to dangerous driving conditions. Ice Storm✅Verified Freezing rain accumulation met the technical criteria for an ice storm in many areas. Crippling Ice Storm❌Did Not Verify Thanks to the higher volume of sleet, we avoided catastrophic ice accumulation levels. Widespread Power Outages❌Did Not Verify #cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc
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