Anyone who has lived in Raleigh for a while will likely remember what happened 18 years ago. Less than an inch of snow brought the city to a complete standstill as icy roads led to eight hours of gridlock.

What You Need To Know

  • Temperatures were in the 20s on Jan. 19, 2005 when a band of snow moved through Raleigh

  • The snow instantly stuck to untreated roads 

  • The heat from cars on the road caused the snow to briefly melt and then refreeze

  • Due to the icy roads, some students had to spend the night at school

Less than an inch of snow typically does not create a significant impact. You could say this was a bit of a "perfect storm," though.

Temperatures were in the 20s all day on Jan. 19, 2005, which is pretty rare for our area. A weak system, forecast to bring flurries for central North Carolina, intensified as it approached Raleigh, leaving the light accumulation. The snow instantly stuck to the roads due to the frigid temperatures.

The snowfall occurred during the middle of the school and workday. Schools and some offices closed early due to the snow.

As many cars and school buses hit the roads at once, the heat from the vehicles briefly melted the snow on roads, which then refroze in the 20-degree temperatures. Streets around the city became more like ice rinks, leading to numerous accidents as cars slid into one another.  

With the gridlock, the N.C. Department of Transportation was not able to apply salt and sand to treat the roads.

Commutes that usually take just 15 to 20 minutes took some drivers six to eight hours. School buses became stuck in the gridlock, and some had to return to school. Some students and teachers were forced to spend the night at school.

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