ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - January 23, 2026

Episode Date: January 24, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. And right now at 11, it's the final push. Tonight, grocery stores and restaurants are getting cleaned out. It comes as many people across the triangle and beyond are doing what they can to stock up ahead of what's expected to be a dangerous winter storm. Tens of millions of Americans are under weather alerts tonight as Mother Nature cooks. looks up a massive weather event on the menu, heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain expected to impact more than half the country. Tonight, millions of Americans are cautiously waiting and watching as we all brace for impact. Thanks so much for joining us here for the news at 11. I'm Lauren Johnson.

Hi, everyone. I'm Steve Daniels here in Central North Carolina. A thick layer of ice continues to be our main concern. And tonight, emergency management officials are doing what they can to stay ahead at potentially dangerous roads and lingering power outages. Take a look at this video just into the newsroom. Duke Energy showing off how massive its fleet of power crews is standing by in Wake County tonight. We have team coverage tonight. John Dowding is talking to people as they gather those essential last minute necessities. But let's start with chief meteorologist. Don Schweniker, Don, the scope of this ice threat is something we haven't seen in nearly 20 years in the triangle. Yeah, and the potential

there to see a lot of ice. Here are our winter weather alerts from the National Weather Service. We have a winter storm warning for most of the area running through Monday morning. We have a winter Weather Advisory, Wayne Sampson, Fayetteville. That's only because you'll see a little less ice, but still potential for ice down there. And then we have an ice storm warning down in Robeson County toward Lumberton. We take a look at your first Lurr Predictor. Our internal models now are getting a better handle on what time this starts. And it hasn't changed much since earlier today. It does show it around 7 o'clock. It spreads a little further to the south. May come up as some sleet first and snow to the north eventually by 11 o'clock this time tomorrow night we're seeing

sleet mix in cold at the surface warm upstairs and then overnight tomorrow night it changes to freezing rain and that freezing rain is what worries us because as that comes down it touches it's liquid until it touches something and then it freezes up that freezing rain could continue off and on all through the day on Sunday by 5 o'clock the model shows a little bit of a break in the action but that may just be a waiver in the model. We haven't seen this much. This is the first time we've seen that little bit of a break. It does continue into Sunday night.

Now the one thing that we're still up in the air is when this stops, because some of the models now are incorporating some warm air from the south, and that's pushing us into the 33 and 34 degree range. And you may think, well, that's not very far from freezing. One degree makes all the difference in the world. So if we were able to see some rain in here, that would help to melt off some of that ice accumulation, before it finally moves out and that bitter cold air moves in on Monday.

Ice potential really hasn't changed that much. We do see about a half inch possible through the metro quarter up to the north and west, a little less to the south as they see more rain working in. Live look at first alert Doppler net tonight. We're dry around here, but if you zoom it out and head west, that's the system headed our way. Snow flying from Kansas City to Oklahoma City, mixed precipitation through Arkansas, and this is what arrives here tomorrow. So let's show you that first alert to the overnight forecast as we head into tomorrow.

Those temperatures will be in the 40s. By 8 a.m. We're down to 26. And then as we go into the afternoon, the cloud stick with us by 8 o'clock that winter mixes here. We'll talk more about that and your first alert seven-day forecast coming up, guys. Okay, Don, we'll see you soon. And today's state official share details about the steps they're taking to prepare for tomorrow's winter weather. Our cameras were at the emergency operation center in Raleigh today.

Duke Energy says more than 18,000 workers are set to respond to this storm coming from 27 states and Canada. The threat of ice accumulation is deeply concerning, and Governor Stein says it's important for everyone to take this seriously. Get disaster supplies ready now in case you lose power and can't leave home for a few days. You may need water, non-perishable food, medication, and other supplies for three to five days for each person and pet in your house. household. Other items to consider adding to your kit, a flashlight, fresh batteries, a battery operated radio, portable phone charger, blankets, and winter weather clothing. And from the Triangle to the Sand Hills, emergency management crews are hard at work tonight, making sure their communities are prepared for whatever is coming their way. Let's begin in Durham. Today, crews have been treating the roads

throughout the city. The Office of Emergency Services says departments across the city and the county have put their winter weather plans in action. The city of Durham is treating the roads with both salt and sand. The city of Fayetteville is declared a state of emergency ahead of the winter storm, and tomorrow fast. The primary public transportation in Fayetteville is suspending bus service. In Raleigh, the fire department is using a new tool to give firefighters some traction on ice-covered roads. Specially designed snow chains are ready to be put on tires. They have spikes that can cut into ice and hopefully prevent fire trucks from sliding around. Salting is also a top priority in the city of Raleigh. We've actually gone and put down brine at all 30 fire stations and the collector streets that tie into the fire stations again to increase emergency response time.

And they are ready in the city of Raleigh to respond. They have their preparedness plan ready to go into action. Nationwide, the big story continues to be the mad dash to the grocery store. A lot of people stocking up preparing for the worst in the event catastrophic ice keeps them at home. And we have video from this grocery store in Texas. The meat section pretty much cleared out there. Yeah, much of the same. But this Trader Joe's in New Jersey, shoppers taking the healthy route right to the produce department, clearing out those fresh fruits and those vegetables.

All right. We've seen the same thing here at home. John Dowding is live in Raleigh. John, you've talked to shoppers tonight at a local restaurant about what they're doing to make sure they are keeping everybody well fed in the days ahead. And you guys just said it right there. We're seeing those images right here in the triangle. we spoke to just trying to get their hands on what they could in the stores.

A lot of those essential items like pasta and bottled water running low on shelves in our local grocery stores. But there's also some local businesses stepping up to offer prepared meals for families in case they lose power. Busy. Yeah, very busy. A lot of people were around. The rush is on in the triangle to grab those last minute items before a winter storm brings icy conditions and an arctic blast of cold air. I got some pasta and some non-perishables. I tried to get some water, but it was all out. The shopping rush impacting local grocery stores as shelves empty out of some essentials Friday night. Stuff like pasta was fully cleared out.

I'm saying some canned soups were missing. Some breads definitely were missing. A lot of people were also stocking up on meats. But some small businesses are also finding ways to help ahead of the storm. We just hope that together by helping each other. that it'll benefit everyone. Cheney is offering snow day meal kits of prepared food at their locations in downtown Durham and RTP. To make sure that in case people don't want to cook or didn't have enough ingredients or they're unable to cook if the electricity is out and the power is out and if they have an electric stove, for instance.

Staff say they want to make sure the community stays well fed during the storm, but also want to find a way to support their staff as the storm forces many small businesses to close their doors for days. Help us out, help other small businesses out because two, three days of lost revenue is, it can be fatal to a small business, especially in a month that we're already very slow. Nacini has information on their social media and their website about how you can order one of those prepared meals for you and your family. Now the shoppers we spoke to just said, if you got to head out to the grocery store for some last minute items tomorrow, make sure you're doing it early before that storm comes through our area and those conditions on the roadways get worse because. of the ice. Live here in downtown Raleigh, I'm John Dowding. ABC 11, I witness news. Yeah, Cheney's ready for pickups tomorrow. They say it's simple to warm it up and it'll taste great this weekend. John, thanks. And this weekend, the airport is not the place to be, if you can help it. Already, flight cancellations for this weekend have officially topped

8,000 nationwide. That means air travel could be a major source of frustration. The most impacted airport on Saturday is Charlotte Douglas International with 342 cancellations and counting. On Sunday, that number rises to 738. As for our DU. We are expected to see about 245 cancellations happening on Sunday. A public shelter is opening in Orange County to support people affected by the winter storm. The shelter at Smith Middle School on Sewell School Road in Chapel Hill will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Basic necessities, food and water will be provided to those who are in need. Pets are welcome, but you must provide proof of vaccinations in addition to keeping your animal on a leash or in a carrier. As we're looking ahead to the winter storm, we're also looking back at the last major ice storm here in December of 2,000. It left more than 600,000 people without power for days. This video is a reminder of how bad the roads were. The highway patrol reported 540 wrecks on the first night alone here in the triangle. Cars sliding into guardrails crashing into each other.

We're hearing from a Raleigh woman who says she remembers that storm 24 years ago, very clearly and how her kids were left stranded at school. We had young children at the time and they were at the elementary school and all of a sudden nothing was moving. no buses, no nothing. So the children spent the night at school with the rest of the children in the school. And I thought, I can't imagine. I said that would be the worst thing for teachers, but the best thing for children. So they had a good time.

And whenever they could get on the roads again, then they came back home. Yeah, the kids loved it. She tells us she's been living in the Brookhaven neighborhood there off Glenwood Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall for more than 40 years. and she says that was one of the worst storms she has ever seen. And during this weekend storm, we'll once again be watching for power outages around here. If you do lose power, Duke Energy wants to hear from you. You can report the outage by texting out to 57801. You can also use the Duke Energy app or their website to report a power outage.

And we hope you'll join us this weekend. We'll have coverage around the clock here on eyewitness news during the weekend storm, from here in the studio to out in the field. We've got you covered here on the air on ABC11 and streaming wherever you stream ABC11 and ABC11.com. Coming up next year on eyewitness news, a request from the jury in the highly watched murder trial of Isaiah Raj. Next, what the jury wants to know is they near a verdict in this case of self-defense. And a massive show of support for the Buddhist monks walking for peace, hundreds, if not thousands of people line US-64 to see the incredible movement with their own eyes. What we're hearing from the ground as the monks stay on the move.

And the rush to charge their car, the gridlock at the charging station to juice up before any potential power outage. What drivers are saying about the long wait coming up next. And Don's keeping an eye on the temperatures outside tonight. Yeah, and it's getting cold out there tonight. We'll drop a low freezing before recovering a little bit tomorrow. We'll talk about the really cold air. We get a second push of Arctic air by Monday. That's in your first alert forecast next.

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We are local news. ABC 11 eyewitness news continues now. In Orange County, the verdict in the double murder trial of Isaiah Ross is now delayed because of the winter weather. Ross, as you know, is charged with murdering. two Orange County teenagers, but he's claiming self-defense in the case. Today, Judge Reese telling the jury this is a really big decision you have to reach. She went on to say she didn't want anyone to feel any undue stress because of the weather.

Reese didn't give an exact date of when they will return next week, but did say they will only do so if it's safe. The court has all of the jury's contact information and we'll reach out to them about when to return. The Orange County Courthouse is closed on Monday because of the impending storm. The earliest the jury could return would be on Tuesday. And a trial date has now been set for the man charged with murdering 19-year-old UNC Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012. Miguel Enrique Soluero Olivares was in court today in Durham County. It comes after a new motion was filed by the defense team for Soluero Olivares, pushing to ensure Hedgepeth's roommate, Corinna Rosario shows up to the witness at the trial.

They're also asking for Jordan McCrary, who also lives out of state to appear as a witness during the trial. Rosario has not been charged with a crime and authorities have not accused for of any wrongdoing. A trial date has been set for September 28th. And today we learn more about a deadly shooting in Wendell. The Wake County Sheriff's Office says the victim found dead yesterday on Damascus Drive is 28-year-old Christopher Cruz. Deputies also found a woman suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Tonight the Buddhist monks capturing the eyes and hearts of millions of people across the country are spending the night resting up in the peak of good living.

Take a look at the video on your screen. Hundreds, if not thousands of people packed out the Apex High School football stadium. That's where the monks will be sleeping before continuing their trek toward the nation's capital. We had Chopper 11 over the monks as hundreds of people followed them along US 64. It's a moment a lot of people say they'll never forget. We still continue to walk until we unable to walk anymore. Hopefully the weather will change. I just came because it's a very valid cause.

It takes a lot of dedication to be able to track the journey that they've tracked. And in the current environment that we in, we all need it. And the monks will be leaving Apex sometime tomorrow and they'll arrive in Raleigh later in the day. Turning back to the winter weather, the threat of catastrophic ice could lead to significant power outages all across central North Carolina. But there is a bit of good news if you are the owner of certain models of electric vehicles. We stop by the Tesla supercharging station at the Wellington Park Shopping Center in Kerry. And on a day like today, the wait for a charger can be long and so can. the charging itself. Drivers say it's worth it, especially in the event of a major power

outage. Most electric cars come equipped with outlets allowing drivers to plug in in a worst case scenario at home without power. And did you know this? Your EV may also be able to power your home too. It sounds crazy, but some car brands like Ford, Hyundai, and Tesla cyber trucks are cars with vehicle to load or V2L. It allows you to use the large car battery to power external devices. We talk to car owners who say having an EV in times like this comes in handy. This is my dream come true. You know, if I can get these cars charge and I can use it leverage at home, I mean, especially the situation like that tomorrow or this weekend. Charging up before the storm in case we do lose power. I can, I've got an extension cord

and I'll be able to run it into the house and power some essential things like a heater and things like that. According to power company, Electric, A fully charged EV can power a home for several days. I learned about this yesterday, Steve, talking to my friend Laura over in Charlotte. She has two EVs and she's like, we're not worried about the power going out because we have some some electric cars in the garage. Laura's all set and that guy with his cyber truck is all set too. He's got the whole house. We're running off his cyber truck if need be.

It's kind of amazing when you think about, right? That is really wild. Yeah. A different kind of day around here. Absolutely. Everybody finding their way to get ready for this storm. Let's talk about this storm and the warnings we have. winter storm morning for most of the viewing area. We have a winter weather advisory,

south and east through portions of Wayne County, Samson County, Coberland County, and an ice storm warning where they're anticipating more ice down in Robinson County. I was just reading a note from the National Weather Service. It's really close whether this is a winter storm morning or an ice storm morning. Right now it's a winter storm morning for us, ice storm out west, because we anticipate more sleet mixing in. Sleets, you don't have to shovel. so that's good news. Or sleet doesn't stick to things. You can shovel it, but nothing to worry about.

Live look at First Alert Doppler net tonight. We're dry around here, a couple of showers down in Bladen County. Look at the temperatures. We'll go Mandeo to Murphy tonight. The really cold air is still west of us. 46 down at the coast. 35 now down at ECU, 37 in the triad. Boone checks in at 29.

And we're going to see cold temperatures tonight. Those numbers down into the mid-20s for lows, 24 Raleigh, 25 Smithfield, 32 for you in Fayetteville and 32 as we look to the south in Lumberton. There's just a couple of showers down here, but watch what happens when we zoom it out. Massive system, and we'll put the warnings on so you can kind of see the track of the storm. Anywhere that's pink, this is a winter storm warning. And so that's where most of that winter air is going to go right up in to New England. This line right here, this is what we need to watch, because that's what's going to cause ice as it works through the Tennessee Valley.

and then works its way into our neck of the woods. So let's walk you through the timing of it, your first alert predictive forecast model. Lunchtime tomorrow, we're still dry. Notice we're cold though. Temperatures at lunchtime in the 20s. So the cold air is here at the surface. And that'll be your last little time

to either get out, walk the dog, or make sure you've got everything ready to go. And remember, if you go to the grocery store and it's out of water, you can still fill that water up out of your faucet into some pitchers and just have that too. So you don't have to, that's the old,

fashion way of being prepared, I guess. Hashtag old guy. Anyway, as we go through 7 o'clock tomorrow night, it starts as snow possibly sleet. Looks like it stays sleet now through about 11 o'clock. That's good news because sleet is not freezing rain. Sleet doesn't stick to things like wires and trees. It will bounce off your sleeves. So we want as much sleet as we can. Yes, it's a pain on the roads, but it is, it's not something that's going to bring the wires down. As we have, head into Sunday morning, 6 a.m. We're seeing this change over to freezing rain. And that just means it's water all the way to the ground.

And as soon as it hits the ground, it freezes on contact. So you get icy roads, bridges overpasses, steps, things like that. Now, even by lunchtime, this could be six to eight solid hours of seeing freezing rain. And that's bad news. That's why we would see that significant ice accumulation. Toward the end of it, it does change back to rain before it finally moves out as we head into the day on Monday. and then it gets significantly colder around here. Forecast looks like this seven-day forecast showing 31 tomorrow, 20 degrees.

Tomorrow night, Sunday, 30, 28, and then Monday to Tuesday, we get another blast of cold air. Look at this low Monday night into Tuesday. Nine, this one, 18, so anything on the ground could freeze up again. That's why those are first alert days, finally getting a little more mild as we head toward the end of next week. Guys, it'll be slow to warm up, yeah. Did you see a 15? Mild. compared to what we're seeing.

I understand. Just kidding. It's all relative, right? John, thank you. Still to come. Do you have what it takes to be the next American Idol? One local contestant tells his story of auditioning and when he got a call and heard Kerry Underwood on the line. The acrobat studio, your new foundation.

Use PDF spaces to generate a presentation. Grab your docs, your permits, your moves. AI levels of your pitch gets it in a groove. Choose a template with your timeless cool. Deliver, make it sing. AI builds the deck so you can build that thing. Learn more at Adobe.com slash do that with Acrobat. We're counting down to a brand new season of American Idol.

Yeah, season 24 kicks off on Monday right here on ABC 11. And ahead of the new season, eyewitness news, talked with a local guy who's competing in the new season. His name is Ricky Boyce. He's a country singer from Goldsboro. Ricky spent four years as a soldier at Fort Bragg, and he grew up as a teenager in foster care. He tells us he actually applied to be on the show at the very last minute after years of people telling him he should go audition. We were going to Disney World, and I last minute decided to submit an audition because I'm at the

cutoff age, which is 29. So I submitted a video to them, not thinking I was going to hear anything, and then we're about to get on the aerial ride at, like, Hollywood Studios or something. And then all of a sudden, next thing I know, like, I'm figuring out my life around going to American Idol. And when I did the audition for the producer to make sure that I was good to get on the show, Carrie Underwood happened to jump on the call and like she's like yeah he's good

send him down to go ahead and audition so it was like holy cow all right so season 24 of American Idol premieres on Monday at 8 p.m. right here on ABC 11 and with the new season Idol becomes the first reality competition to introduce live voting on social media so we'll be watching Monday to see how

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Medcan. Live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Steve, we say good night for the weekend, but today we have to say we'll see you tomorrow. That's right. And Sunday as well. And our entire eyewitness news team will be with you here in the studio out in the field getting you through this winter storm. And of course, streaming anytime at ABC11.com and on the apps as well. Bundle up. Cook some good stuff tonight. And we'll see you back here tomorrow.

We'll see you tomorrow. Good night. ABC 11 eyewitness news is sponsored by Capital Chevrolet. Together let's drive. Shop capitalchevrolet.com.