Several businesses closed early and school officials decided to cancel classes as winter weather moved through Richmond County Thursday evening.
Originally issuing a two-hour delay, Richmond County Schools made the decision to let students stay home on Friday and give staff a two-hour delay for an optional workday.
Snow started falling late Thursday afternoon in the northern end of the county, with a quarter-inch accumulating in Norman by just after nightfall.
A drive down the road to Ellerbe was like traveling light speed in Star Wars as snowflakes flew by.
By 7 p.m., several yards and vehicles in Ellerbe were already blanketed with a light covering of snow.
By 8 p.m., Rockingham had light snow falling with slight accumulation.
The snow even stretched down to Chesterfield, South Carolina.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh increased the predicted amount of snow for Richmond County to 2 inches in most areas north of U.S. 74.
Overnight lows are expected to dip to around 28 degrees, with a north wind making it feel around 19 degrees by morning.
Black ice could form on wet roadways.
The snow should clear out after 3 a.m., clearing by morning with a high of 41. However those clear skies will have temps below freezing by 8 p.m.
