By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent

After last weekend’s ice storm, Cleveland County is prepping for wintry weather across the county this weekend, as municipalities, county government and schools prepare for snow.

The City of Shelby posted cautionary social media posts, urging residents to be prepared, while other towns across the county did the same.

 From Boiling Springs to Belwood, and Casar to Kings Mountain, having just recovered from the ice from last weekend, the county prepped for snow that may already be falling by the time you read this article.

“We are working with our countywide partners to participate in a unified response to the impending inclement weather event,” said Boiling Springs Town Manager Zach Parker. “The whole-of-government response is what makes living in a small town such a joy! Everyone—regardless of their official capacity—is willing to do whatever it takes to help.”

In Lattimore, Mayor Alton Beal said people are already inquiring about the good spots to go sledding in town, also adding, “When snow comes to Lattimore, it gives it a beauty that only God can give. I think most of us are preparing to stay warm and fed, to watch the children play, and to keep a watchful eye on our elderly residents.”

Beal continued, reminding residents that town officials are available if anyone needs to reach out, “The Town Hall may be closed, but the mayor and council members are just a call away if our residents need anything. Weekends like this remind me how blessed I am to live in a small town in Cleveland County."

Meanwhile, Cleveland County Schools operated on a two-hour delay Friday for the Crest and Kings Mountain zones, with the Burns zone schools and district-wide school programs were closed on Friday. This included the Burns schools, plus Turning point Academy, North Shelby Schools and Cleveland Early College High School.

As the snow moves into our area, it will most likely be one of the biggest snows to fall across Cleveland County in a while, according to the National Weather service.

Cleveland County government declared a state of emergency; Chairman of the County Commissioners, Kevin Gordon, signed a proclamation of a state of emergency again for this weekend.

In a press release, the county stated, "Cleveland County officials are preparing for an approaching winter storm and extreme cold, with public safety remaining the top priority. A State of Emergency has once again been issued, effective Saturday, January 31, to ensure resources can be deployed quickly and efficiently ahead of the storm."

The statement continued, "Based on the latest forecast, a shelter will not initially be opened, as widespread power outages are not anticipated at this time. However, Cleveland County has pre-positioned supplies and materials and remains ready to open a shelter quickly should conditions change."

However, when this snow will hit our area, and how much depends on what the weather does, as anything could change, but County Manager David B. Cotton said it's best to be prepared for the worst.

“It’s not often that our area experiences back-to-back winter storms,” said Cotton. “We encourage residents to prepare now for frigid temperatures, hazardous road conditions, and to stay connected with Cleveland County Government throughout the weekend for the latest updates.”

The National Weather Service, Greenville Spartanburg, is confident that Cleveland County will receive six to seven inches of snow.

“A low-pressure system developed near the Carolina coast that will amplify through the night,” explained Jake Wimberley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Greenville Spartanburg, in a call with The Shelby Independent. “We will see perception across the state – and for Shelby, the most likely time we will see snow is during the day tomorrow (Saturday), with near the middle of the day will the peak of the snowfall.”

Wimberley added, “It’ll be all snow with lows tonight around 20 and tomorrow not even rising out of the 20s, so its perfect for snow. Snow totals are still being defined but right now it is expected to be six to seven inches, with some higher amounts in higher elevations with isolated areas.”

(Local snow expectations continued below advertisers...)

Wimberley also mentioned, while unlikely, anything above six or seven inches could possibly occur in Shelby or anywhere across Cleveland County but that chance is rare but, “In the realm of possibility.”

“The snow rates will taper off tomorrow evening, the snow will end before daybreak on Sunday,” Wimberley said. “With the temps expected to remain cold on Sunday, it’ll be well below freezing and will linger on the ground for a little while, but we do expect warmer days by the middle of next week.”

He noted temps will be about 10 degrees going into Sunday and maybe even down to eight degrees on Sunday night. “We want residents to know there will be some windchill close to zero, early Sunday morning, so that’s another thing for people to be aware of, and to certainly bundle up if you’re going to be outside,” he noted, “And make sure pets will have a warm place and check on vulnerable folks, such as the elderly that they are adequately protected from the cold.”

The City of Kings Mountain released a statement on Friday afternoon, warning of potential issues that could arise, stating, “The most significant impacts are expected late Friday night and throughout Saturday. With a comprehensive storm response plan in place, crews are prepared to address hazardous conditions, potential utility outages, and necessary repairs. Public safety remains the city’s top priority before, during, and after the storm.”

Shelby’s Mayor Stan Anthony took to social media, posting a video on the city’s Facebook page, asking residents to keep their faucets dripping, stay home and be safe as Shelby is under a winter storm warning. “As you know by now a lot of the predictions can vary greatly,” he said. “We encourage our citizens to stay home. The roads are planned to be very treacherous.”

Mayor Anthony also warned of possible power outages on the video, to contact the city via information posted on the city’s website, adding, “Stay safe, stay warm. We will weather this out together.”

Safety Reminders for Residents

• Please do not call 911 to report power outages. Power outages should be reported directly to your electric service provider so emergency lines remain available for life-threatening situations.

• If a tree falls and brings down power lines, assume the lines are live and call 911 immediately.

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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent. 

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