Duke Energy - Potential Weekend Winter Storm Update

By now, you have likely seen the weather forecasts for the weekend predicting a chance of ice, snow, and freezing rain. Duke Energy meteorologists are tracking the storm and updating forecast models, which influence how the company mobilizes its workers and other resources as needed. I wanted to share a few reminders should we see winter weather impacts in South Carolina this weekend. 
 
A potential winter storm system could affect the area this weekend, but details remain highly uncertain. Cold high pressure will spread from the Great Lakes to the Northeast on Friday and then build down the eastern seaboard into the Carolinas for the weekend.  Meanwhile, an active storm track sets up from the Gulf Coast to the southeastern US coastline.  Models are in good agreement that the cold air will be in place ahead of the storm system, unlike recent events which lacked the cold air needed for wintry precipitation. However, storm track is still highly uncertain, making a forecast of the transition zone from snow to sleet/ice extremely difficult this far out. 
   
Please remember, the National Weather Service is your official provider of weather information. 
 

 
 
Duke Energy works on grid improvements throughout the year to help avoid outages and restore power faster when outages occur. These improvements include tree trimming around power lines, pole and line upgrades, and installing smart, self-healing technology. 
 
Self-healing grid technology quickly identifies power outages and reroutes power to restore service faster for customers when an outage occurs. In 2025, smart, self-healing technology helped avoid more than 1.4 million customer outages in the Carolinas, saving 3.1 million hours of total outage time. Nearly a quarter of these benefits occurred during major storms, providing a powerful tool to help crews in the field restore power when severe weather strikes. Around 75% of Duke Energy customers in the Carolinas (3.6 million customers) currently benefit from self-healing technology.
 
SC SELF-HEALING DATA: In 2025, smart, self-healing technology helped avoid more than 170,000 customer outages in South Carolina, saving 320,000 hours of total outage time. Nearly a quarter of these benefits occurred during major storms, providing a powerful tool to help crews in the field restore power when severe weather strikes. Nearly 75% of Duke Energy customers in South Carolina (640,000 customers) currently benefit from self-healing technology, three times the number of customers served by this innovative technology in 2023. More than 400,000 customers have been added over the last three years (since 2023). 
 
 
  
Winter storm safety reminders
We encourage customers to prepare for a potential outage during the anticipated cold weather. Here are important safety reminders:

• Ensure mobile phones remain charged and you have an adequate supply of flashlights, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable foods and medicines.
• If you use a generator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safe and proper operation. Operate your generator outside, and never in a building or garage.
• Do not use grills or other outdoor appliances indoors for space heating or cooking, as these devices may emit carbon monoxide.
• Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Report any downed power lines to Duke Energy or local emergency services.
• Make alternate shelter arrangements, as needed, if you are significantly affected by a loss of power – especially families who have special medical needs or elderly members.
• If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
• Ice and snow can cause hazardous driving conditions. If you do have to travel and see utility or emergency crews working along the road, remember to move over or slow down.

• Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). 
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app. Download the Duke Energy app from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play. 
• Visit duke-energy.com/outages on a desktop computer or mobile device.
• Call the automated outage reporting system at 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
• Visit our interactive outage map to find up-to-date information on power outages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration.