ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Power outages were reported in North Carolina's mountain counties as a winter storm brought snow and sleet to much of the state and rain to the rest.
North Carolina's two major utilities — Progress Energy and Duke Energy — reported a total of about 40,000 outages late Friday afternoon, mostly in the mountains.
The National Weather Service says up to three inches of snow, sleet and ice are expected in the mountains. A drenching rain was falling early Friday in the Charlotte area, while several inches of snow accumulated farther north.
In the Triad, snow that began late Thursday night changed to sleet and then rain Friday.
Parts of central and eastern North Carolina are under flood watches in advance of significant rainfall of up to two inches.
