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❄ Charlotte sees historic snow Saturday; fourth-highest snowfall day on record
◼️ 11 inches recorded at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, though parts of the region saw more◼️ Road conditions are the biggest issue because of the snow◼️ Cold temps will continue today, but forecasted sunshine will begin to melt snow on roads
by Ashley Fahey
“I think they got it right this time,” said a neighbor, whose identity was a mystery because his face was wrapped in a scarf, as he walked past me on a quiet residential street in Commonwealth Park.
He was likely referring to meteorologists’ predictions last weekend of an ice storm that, forecasters were saying, could resemble the infamous one that hit Charlotte 24 years ago. Though the region did see sleet and ice, the worst of what was expected (thankfully) didn’t happen.
Instead, Charlotte yesterday saw its biggest single day of snowfall — much preferred to its more dangerous icy counterpart last weekend — in almost 22 years.
In fact, the 11 inches of snow recorded at Charlotte Douglas International Airport made it the fourth-largest single-day snowfall in Charlotte’s history, according to WCNC’s Brad Panovich. It ties the 11 inches of snow recorded on Dec. 29, 1880.
Snow began very early on Saturday and continued through most of the day.
Back in Commonwealth Park, around 11 a.m. on Saturday, kids and adults were sledding — on traditional sleds but also on inflatable pool tubes, Boogie Boards and laundry baskets — around hilly Commonwealth Avenue, near Repo Records. Humans and dogs alike trekked through powdery snow to gather at Frank’s Beer Shop. Though it hasn’t been open a year yet, the bar is a neighborhood hot spot, even on a frigid day like Saturday, when the wind chill made it feel like 3 degrees at times. An ATV drove by with more people (and more dogs).
The winter weather mostly ended in the early evening, although more light snow fell overnight.
Sunshine will bring warmer temperatures today, but all of the snow will limit the warming effect, according to longtime Charlotte weather reporter Steve Lyttle. Still, the expected sunshine will be enough to start some melting on roadways.
The Charlotte region is under an Extreme Cold Warning until 10 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.
As of midnight, here were unofficial totals reported around the region, according to Lyttle (in some cases, there are different amounts for the same general location — all reports were made between 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, so final totals will be a bit higher, Lyttle says):
Mecklenburg County:
11 inches near Mountain Island Dam
10.2 in Pineville
9.5 in Matthews
7.5 at UNC Charlotte
7.4 in Mint Hill
Cabarrus County:
14.5 in Kannapolis
13 in Harrisburg
12 in Concord
Cleveland County:
9.5 in Boiling Springs
8.4 in Lawndale
6.5 in Shelby
Gaston County:
12 in Cramerton
Iredell County:
12 in Troutman
11 in Mooresville
Rowan County:
14 in China Grove
York County:
7 in Tega Cay
5.8 in McConnells
📸 Take a good snow day photo? Share it with us at [email protected].
Roads remain messy
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s message today was succinct: “Stay home this morning unless it’s an emergency or you are essential personnel. That’s it. That’s the message.”
Road conditions have been the biggest issue because of the snowfall. In fact, many roads in the area were nearly impassable, the NWS said last night. Gusty winds were also producing areas of blowing snow, which can impact visibility.
Treacherous road conditions from the snow spurred a major traffic incident on Interstate 85 northbound in Cabarrus County yesterday that left more than 100 vehicles — including 30 tractor-trailers — stranded, WSOC reported. The interstate was temporarily shut down but reopened around 9 p.m.
A train struck a semi-cab that became stuck on railroad tracks in Gastonia yesterday, according to the Gastonia Police Department. The driver had time to get out, but the department noted that ice, snow and slick surfaces “can turn a routine drive into a life-threatening situation in seconds.”
Around 6 p.m. yesterday, outbound East Independence Boulevard was closed between Interstate 277 and Briar Creek Road because of hazardous conditions, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said on social media.
Medic, Mecklenburg County’s EMS agency, said on Facebook that between midnight and 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, 49 traffic accidents with injuries were reported.
The N.C. State Highway Patrol on its Facebook page said it had responded to 750 collisions and 817 calls for service across the state, as of 6 p.m. Saturday.
The NWS encouraged anyone who has to drive to slow down and use caution. Keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Here’s what else to know
On Saturday, 1,090 flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were canceled — and, so far, 812 flights are canceled for today, according to FlightAware. Check directly with your airline for the latest information.
The Charlotte Area Transit System initially said its bus and Lynx Blue Line light-rail service would begin at 10 a.m. today, but ultimately canceled all of its service today. The transit agency in a statement said CATS will continue to clear station platforms, bus stops, garages, transit centers and other transit infrastructure today in an effort to resume select transit services tomorrow.
The Charlotte Checkers said today’s 1 p.m. game at Bojangles Coliseum will be closed to the public. The game, against the Providence Bruins, will still be played and will be televised locally on WCCB Charlotte and streamed online via FloSports.
All Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation facilities, including recreation and senior centers, parks, nature preserves, and nature centers, are closed today.
No word yet on what will happen with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools tomorrow. All CMS schools and facilities are closed this weekend, and all field trips and athletic events for Saturday and Sunday have been canceled. The latest from CMS: “We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and will keep you informed of any district or school schedule changes through the CMS website, on social media, and through ParentSquare (email, text, and phone call), if necessary.”
Very few power outages were marked on Duke Energy’s outage map early Sunday in the Charlotte region.
Ashley Fahey is The Charlotte Ledger’s managing editor. Reach her at [email protected].
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