Winter weather across the county caused power outages as lines fell or were damaged by downed limbs and trees or a build-up of snow and ice.

At noon on Monday, Duke Energy reported 1,333 customers were without power in Surry County. By 5:23 p.m., all power outages caused by the weather had been restored.

Crews were working diligently across the area to restore power as quickly as possible and keep people from enduring the below-freezing temperatures which lasted throughout the day.

Local radio stations WPAQ and WSYD were among those without power during the day on Monday. According to Tim Frye, disc jockey with WPAQ, the station lost power at 8:35 a.m., however, the station had a back-up phone and was able to stay open but not broadcast. Power was returned at 1:09 p.m., and the station began broadcasting soon after.

Surry County was not the only area to experience power losses. Around 185,000 Duke Energy customers in North and South Carolina experienced power outages due to the storm system.

“Restoration efforts began overnight and our crews will continue to work as safely and quickly as possible until every customer is restored,” said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy Carolinas, in a press release.

Residents were asked to stay alert through Monday night as temperatures were expected to drop into the teens overnight causing areas to refreeze, creating black ice.

“With the cold weather coming in again tonight, when it gets down in the lower teens, it’s not good,” said John Shelton, Surry County Emergency Services director. “Once we get into this type situation where the majority of the pavement is dry, drivers tend to go a lot faster. Once they hit the black ice, they are already at an accelerated speed, so we are asking everyone to please take caution in driving tonight and tomorrow morning.”

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.