— Residents in Wake County and north and west of the Triangle saw a second round of white, fat snowflakes Monday. Although the heaviest snow and its accompanying accumulation has stopped, the thick layer of white powder covering the roads is dangerous when combined with dropping temperatures.

Overview

The snow has ended, but not before dropping about 2 inches across the Triangle.

Most areas southeast of the Triangle saw mainly rain.

Power outages: More than 110,000 customers across the state are without power

Temperatures are expected to plunge overnight and could lead to a dangerous Tuesday morning commute, and road conditions are most treacherous northwest of Interstate 85.

The Triangle remains under a winter weather advisory until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Wintry updates

5 p.m.: Raleigh-Durham International Airport recorded 1.9 inches of snow on Monday, which broke a record for Dec. 10, according to WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel. That was on top of the 7 inches recorded at RDU on Sunday.

The 8.9 inches is well ahead of the average 6.1 inches of snow RDU sees in December.

The Triangle is close to breaking the record for the wettest year, which was set in 1996 with 59.14 inches of precipitation. With the snow totals from Sunday and Monday added in, 56.86 inches of precipitation has been recorded at RDU so far this year, Fishel said, and heavy rains expected on Friday and Saturday could erase much of the remaining 2.28-inch deficit.

1:55 p.m.: The Wake County Public School System has joined the growing list of area school districts canceling classes on Tuesday.

1:30 p.m.: The intensity of precipitation has let up across the Triangle and has pretty much stopped near the Virginia border, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. Although temperatures remain in the low 30s across the region, gusty winds make it feel like it's in the low to mid-20s.

Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-30s through the afternoon before colder air arrives from the north, dropping overnight lows into the low 20s.

12:55 p.m.: The state Department of Transportation has reopened a U.S. Highway 70 bridge over the Neuse River in Kinston to traffic. The bridge had been closed since early Sunday, when a tractor-trailer skidded through a guardrail and into the river. Divers are still searching for the truck driver.

DOT said one westbound lane will remain closed until crews can repair the guardrail later in the week.

The U.S. 70 bridge in Kinston is open to traffic after a crash Sunday morning. Today, crews deemed it safe for drivers. https://t.co/r1bwOatBQ5 pic.twitter.com/MhWmFp5k2H — NCDOT Southern Coast (@NCDOT_Scoast) December 10, 2018

12:30 p.m.: More than 110,000 businesses and homes statewide are without power, down from a peak of 140,000 in the morning. Nearly 1,700 outages were reported in Wake County, but that was topped by 2,400 outages in Chatham County and almost 2,200 in Granville County.

12:25 p.m.: The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ground stop for flights into Raleigh-Durham International Airport, holding those flights at their departure points. Ninety-eight flights delays and 55 cancellations are reported at RDU.

12:10 p.m.: School closures are starting to extend into Tuesday. Both Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools have already decided not to hold class for a second day. Keep up as other closings or delays are announced throughout the day.

11:45 a.m.: Far from the Triangle but serious, a tweet from the state Department of Transportation confirmed a truck carrying livestock overturned on westbound Interstate 40 near the Tennessee state line. As a result, all lanes of I-40 west were closed three miles prior to Exit 7 for Cold Springs Creek Road.

11:30 a.m.: Snow has started slowing across the Triangle, but the threat to drivers is far from over. "I think the heaviest is over, so we won't have any more accumulation from this particular band," said Gardner, adding that a mix of snow and sleet will continue across the Triangle until 1 or 2 p.m.

Temperatures across the viewing area are at or below freezing and will not rise much as the day continues. The mercury reads 30 degrees in Raleigh, creating a threat for black ice, particularly overnight Monday and Tuesday morning.

"It doesn't matter where you are or how much snow you've had, at this point, everyone is at risk for slick roads," said Gardner, adding that the Tuesday morning commute could be particularly dangerous through 7 or 8 a.m.

While roads remain dangerous around Raleigh, it appears that major routes in the Triangle are improving slightly. More slick roads have been reported from the Triangle northward. It's important to remember that even roads that appear paved and clear pose a threat. Slush and snow pushed over to the side of the road can become slippery if it gets under tires.

10:45 a.m.: In a news conference, Gov. Roy Cooper said two deaths have been linked to the winter weather. A driver was killed Sunday afternoon after a tree fell on a car near Charlotte. The second death involved a hospice patient, but the governor did not disclose why the death was storm-related.

Officials said 35,000 tons of sand and salt have been used on state roads, and nearly 2,000 trees have fallen. More than 170 National Guard members in 69 vehicles are assisting with emergency response, and 140,000 customers statewide are without power.

"The risk for danger is very real," said Col. Glenn McNeill, commander of the State Highway Patrol. "Don't let your guard down. Just because a road has been scraped doesn't mean it is free of hazards."

According to the Highway Patrol, conditions are the worst north and west of I-85. Even towns that haven't seen snow are experiencing flood watches and warnings, including those along the Neuse River in Kinston and the Lumber River in Lumberton. N.C. Highway 12 in Dare County is at risk for overwash.

The governor also thanked all emergency workers.

"I am deeply grateful for the road crews, the line workers and the first responders who have worked to keep North Carolina warm and safe," Cooper said. "Don't risk your safety and theirs by making them come to your rescue."

10:15 a.m.: North Carolina State University announced that, due to deteriorating conditions, the school will remain under suspended operations. No exams will be given, and all final exams scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled for Saturday.

Although temperatures will be cool, the sunshine will return on Tuesday, helping to dry roads out.

10 a.m.: 120,000 power outages have been reported statewide, most of them in Chatham County and across the Triangle.

Snow is starting to stick to highways around Raleigh, and travel conditions are worst west of I-85. In Durham and Chapel Hill, most roads are covered in snow. Main Street in downtown Durham is covered in a thick, white blanket, and people are urged to stay home unless they must go out.

9:45 a.m.: WRAL's traffic cameras show snowy winter wonderlands from the Triangle west. While the scenes are beautiful, snow is accumulating on the roads, and drivers are traveling slowly. Officials are asking drivers to stay home unless they must go out, as roads are deteriorating quickly.

Visibility is an issue for drivers as snow coats the road.

The temperature at Raleigh-Durham International Airport was recorded at 30 degrees at 10 a.m. It was recorded at 33 degrees earlier in the morning, so temperatures are dropping.

9:30 a.m.: More than 20 flight cancellations have been reported at RDU. GoTriangle has suspended its bus service until further notice.

Fat flakes continue to fall in Raleigh and across the Triangle. WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said the snow could last until lunchtime or even as late as 1 or 2 p.m. A flurry or two could pop up between 7 p.m. and midnight.

8:50 a.m.: Snowflakes that began in Durham and Chapel Hill before moving to Raleigh are now falling in downtown Apex. As snow begins to cover the Triangle again, predictions about what's to come are becoming more certain.

"This time yesterday, it didn't look like we would have this much snow," said Gardner, adding that, at this point, it looks like snow totals could be anywhere from 1 to 3 inches across the Triangle.

"The snow will stick around until early afternoon," said Gardner. Charlotte and areas to the west or southwest of the Triangle could see the most snow while the wintry precipitation should slow and stop in Harnett and Johnston counties.

Similar to Sunday, Cumberland County will likely only see rain.

The National Weather Service released a list of snow totals Monday morning that will need to be updated once more snow accumulates.

8:30 a.m.: Sleet and snowflakes have started falling in Wake County.

According to Gardner, temperatures are at 31 degrees in Raleigh and dropping as a band of snow currently affecting Durham and Chapel Hill moves south. Areas south of Wake County are less likely to see snowflakes. In Wake County, snow is likely until around lunchtime, when precipitation is more likely to turn to rain. Some models are predicting another band of snow overnight, but it's too soon to know for certain.

The snow will stick, but accumulation will be much less than what was seen Sunday.

"We're likely to have totals of 2 to 4 inches of snow," said Gardner. "Where the snow is falling it is coating surfaces since we have temperatures at or below freezing."

The snow could continue in and around the Triangle for several hours before the band moves south and turns to rain.

7:45 a.m.: Large snowflakes are falling again in Chapel Hill and Durham, and snow was sticking to roads.

7:40 a.m.: A water main break has closed North Gregson Street in Durham between West Trinity Avenue and Minerva Avenue.

WRAL News crews captured video of water spewing up into the sky.

Most roads around the Triangle remain decent.

7:30 a.m.: Rain has transitioned to snow flurries in parts of Person County, and some residents around the Triangle have reported seeing freezing rain as temperatures drop Monday morning. According to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner, Monday will be the "opposite" of Sunday, which saw snowflakes turn to rain throughout the morning.

On Monday, it will be the other way around -- as temperatures reach or drop below freezing, the light patchy rain experienced by many could become wintry. Though additional accumulation is not likely, some snow and light icing will be possible throughout the day as temperatures hover around freezing.

The main concern, according to Gardner, is Tuesday, as temperatures will plunge overnight, possibly freezing the wet roads for the morning commute.

Winter storm warning downgraded to advisory

A winter storm warning was downgraded to an advisory Monday for the Triangle, though dozens of counties north and west of Wake remain under the warning.

The threat for slick roads becomes greater as the morning continues, according to Gardner, but mostly northwest of the Triangle.

At 4 a.m., temperatures were hovering right at 33 degrees in Raleigh, but by 7 a.m., they fell to 32 degrees and could soon turn the rain into something wintry.

"The glazing will be fairly light, and a few snow flurries are possible here and there," said Gardner. Although an inch or less of snow is possible in the Triangle by lunchtime, Gardner said she does not expect accumulation to become an issue, and any freezing rain or flurries will be brief as temperatures climb into the mid 30s.

Road conditions

Above-freezing overnight temperatures kept the Triangle roads slushy, not icy, but untreated roads and bridges could briefly become slick and treacherous later Monday morning as temperatures fall, according to Gardner.

"For the most part, all the major roads from the Triangle south and east are clear," said WRAL News reporter Brian Shrader.

"There may be some slick spots northwest of Raleigh."

Most major roads are clear of snow, but hundreds of secondary roads and neighborhood roads are covered this morning. Treacherous roads and bridges are a greater concern in areas northwest of Raleigh, but everyone should use caution when traveling through the slush.

Monday morning in the Triangle will be messy and cold, with patchy rain, some gusty winds and temperatures in the low 30s.

"It really doesn't get much more miserable than that," said Gardner.

Temperatures will rise gradually on Monday afternoon, but that doesn't mean our wintry threat is over. Low temperatures will dip into the 20s overnight, leaving a stronger possibility for slick roads and black ice for the Tuesday morning commute.

"Tuesday's commute could actually be worse than Monday's," said Gardner.

Snow starts again in NC mountains

Snow started falling again in North Carolina's mountains by 7 a.m. The mountains and counties northwest of the Triangle saw more than a foot of snow on Sunday.

Power outages and closings

118,000 customers were still without power in North Carolina at 4 a.m., and several flights at Raleigh-Durham International Airport DU were delayed. The power outages included 3,199 customers in Chatham County, 1,153 in Durham, 1,593 in Orange and 1,000 in Wake.

Hundreds of schools are canceled or delayed Monday due to Sunday's snow.