Severe Weather Event

Severe Winter Weather

POSTED ON 1/22/2026 at 8:30 AM

What’s new in the National Weather Service Wilmington Office’s latest briefing (issued 6:46 AM 1/22):

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for inland counties (this includes Brunswick County).

Key Takeaways:

Confidence is HIGH that the event will occur
Confidence is LOW regarding impacts

  • Ice accretion from freezing rain, along with some sleet, is expected across Southeast NC and Northeast SC, especially inland areas. Uncertainty remains, especially for coastal areas where it could be warmer.
  • Dangerous cold temperatures will follow, which will prolong any travel impacts and affect those without power.
  • Hazardous marine conditions are expected across the coastal waters this weekend.
  • The storm will have a large footprint across the Carolinas, as well as the Southeast & Mid-Atlantic. Hazardous travel conditions are expected to persist into next week, regardless of local impacts.

POSTED ON 1/21/2026 at 5:00 PM

The National Weather Service Wilmington Office’s latest briefing indicates high confidence that a winter weather event will occur this weekend, with significant ice/sleet accumulations possible.  Light rain is forecast for Friday, which is expected to transition to a wintry mix on Saturday.  Details on the precipitation type and accumulations remain uncertain.  There is high confidence that dangerous cold air will remain in the area into next week, with the worst occurring Sunday night through Tuesday night.

Guidance for Islanders

  • Islanders should take measures to protect pipes, as they are at risk of freezing any time temperatures drop below 32°F or 0°C. View some tips HERE. 
  • While the Village is not recommending it, a few of our customers have had their service disconnected as a precaution. If you have had your water service disconnected in the past, you must let the Utilities Department know by Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (call 910-457-9700 ext. 1000 or put in an online service request (HERE). The Village will not do disconnects after hours or on weekends and holidays.  A reconnection fee of $67.99 will apply if you disconnect your service.
  • Islanders should safely heat their homes. Housefires and carbon monoxide are two of the greatest risks for personal injury and even death. View some tips HERE.
  • Be prepared for possible power outages. Report any power outages to Duke Energy. View our power outage webpage HERE for more information.
  • Check Bald Head Island Transportation, Inc.’s app or website for updates on ferry service should this weather have an impact on ferry operations.

This event is expected to significantly impact NC, and Governor Stein recently declared a State of Emergency.

HELPFUL LINKS

VILLAGE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFO POWER OUTAGE INFORMATION WATER & SEWER INFORMATION VILLAGE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS BALD HEAD ISLAND ROAD CONDITIONS ISLAND DIRECTORY BHI TRANSPORTATION, INC. BHI BARGE BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NC DOT ROAD CONDITION MAP BRUNSWICK COUNTY ROAD CONDITIONS

This page is updated when a severe weather event is predicted to impact the Bald Head Island area. If action needs to be taken, the Village will notify Islanders via the CodeRed notification system. Sign up for CodeRed (HERE).

The National Weather Service starts updating its Tropical Weather Outlook page (HERE) starting on May 15 of each year.  This webpage will show any active storms in the Atlantic.