Winter Weather Hits New Bern, N.C., Leaving Residents Enjoying Snow and Facing Road Challenges
New Bern, N.C. (WITN) – Winter weather swept through Eastern Carolina, bringing snow to New Bern on Wednesday, though the area had missed out on a white Christmas. As temperatures dropped overnight, the city woke up to over four inches of snow, transforming the landscape into a winter wonderland.
Holly Keeton, a New Bern resident originally from New England, expressed her delight despite seeking to escape the snow. “I’m from the north up in New England, and we actually came down here to get away from the snow, but I still love it. It feels like home,” Keeton said. Many residents took to Union Point Park to enjoy the snow, with children and adults alike creating snow angels, engaging in snowball fights, and attempting to build snowmen.
For local students, the snow brought the added benefit of a day off from school. Saw Tun, a local student, was excited about the snow, noting, “We haven’t had snow in so long, but I’m happy we had it today because we got school off.”
However, the winter weather also created challenges for drivers in the area. Although some roads were treated with salt and sand, residents were urged to take extra precautions while traveling. Keeton reported having no issues on the roads, saying, “They’ve actually done the roads pretty well. Everyone’s driving on it. I haven’t seen anyone sliding around.”
On the other hand, Fredy Abila, another New Bern resident, shared his frustrations with the conditions. “If you stopped at a stop sign or stoplight or anything, you get stuck, and you kinda gotta work your way out of there,” Abila said, adding that his vehicle got stuck several times while trying to navigate the snow.
City crews have been working to clear the roads, with plans to continue salting and sanding until 5 p.m. to prevent the roads from refreezing into black ice. Despite the challenges, many in New Bern are embracing the unexpected winter weather, making the most of their snowy day.
