Staff report

The National Weather Service (NWS) is once again calling for snow for the Richmond County area.

Flakes are expected to start falling after 4 p.m. Friday, and keep coming until Saturday at 10 a.m.

The NWS said cold and dry air was in place across central North Carolina Friday afternoon and evening.

The NWS is calling mainly for snow with this system and is forecasting accumulations of around two to four inches in some areas. Isolated amounts near five inches may occur where any snow bursts occur after midnight Friday.

The heaviest of the snow is expected to fall between 10 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday.

The weather forced the cancellation of Friday night’s Southeastern Conference basketball games at Richmond Senior High School. The contests between Richmond and Scotland have been rescheduled for Monday night. The women’s varsity game will tip off at 6 p.m., with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. It will be Senior Night at Richmond.

The high Friday was expected to be 42 with a low around 28. Saturday’s forecast has temperatures with a high near 40 and a low around 22. Sunday should be mostly sunny with a high near 48.

The NWS cautioned sleet and ice could occur making travel very hazardous or impossible.

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Highway Division was out early in the day Friday with salt brine trucks on the main roads including, highways 74, 220 and U.S. 1 to prevent roadways from becoming too icy.

The Humane Society of Richmond County’s animal shelter will be closed to the public in event of bad weather this weekend. Visitors are urged to call 895-0335 or 895-9090 prior to going to the shelter.

The outdoor drop-off area will be closed to the public due to the extremely cold weather. Core humane society personnel will be available to receive animals on an emergency basis only.

Call 895-0335, 895-8989 or 995-3400 for assistance.

Richmond County Animal Control will operate on an on-call schedule through President’s Day on Monday. In the event of an animal control emergency, contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 997-8283 or dial 911 and the dispatcher will notify the on-call animal control officer.

Within the city limits of Rockingham, contact the Rockingham Police Department at 895-2468 for assistance. The police department’s animal control officer will contact the humane society in event of an emergency.

The Daily Journal will publish on an early deadline.

n Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.