LIVE BLOG: Charlotte Weather Watch
Follow along to get the latest updates on the winter storm affecting Charlotte this weekend
Hello! This is a Ledger live blog of this weekend’s winter weather, with snow, sleet and freezing rain that’s moved into the area and is limiting travel and daily activities.
The Ledger team will be monitoring conditions closely, including forecast updates, road conditions, school and event changes, and any advisories or warnings. Stick with The Ledger throughout the weekend for real-time updates, safety information and the latest developments. If you need to subscribe to our free or paid version, you can do that here.
You’re welcome to share this with a friend.
And you can comment, too (paying Ledger members only):
SUNDAY, JAN. 25
8:30 p.m. It looks like Charlotte might be finished with freezing rain and sleet
Well, folks, that might be it for this weekend’s sleet and freezing rain.
The local radar from the National Weather Service indicates that we here in Charlotte might be done. There’s still precipitation to the south of Charlotte.
Take a look, as of about 8:30 p.m. (Charlotte is on the right, encircled by I-485):
Monday might be a mess on the roads. And Tuesday might, too. But it looks as though there’s no more coming. —Tony Mecia
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7:28 p.m. Outages in Meckleburg rise as precipitation makes its last gasp
The number of power outages in Mecklenburg County has risen to 3,400 as of 7:20 p.m., as the final band of the storm system makes its way through Charlotte.
We’ve been watching the outages in Mecklenburg all day, and they have been between a few dozen and a few hundred for most of the day.
Now, though, those numbers are up — though nowhere close to the number of outages in Western N.C. and Upstate S.C.
Most of the outages seem to be in the Nations Ford Road corridor by Waddell High School and the Billy Graham Parkway corridor leading to the airport. Take a look:
But it looks like the precipitation in Mecklenburg — which seems to be freezing rain here at Ledger World Headquarers in south Charlotte — is just about over and that we have dodged the worst of the predictions.
Of course, roads remain slick, and the weather is cold and will be for a few days, so the ice and sleet that is out there now might not disappear for a few days. —Tony Mecia
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6:40 p.m. Last band almost here — and it looks like it’s mostly sleet; ‘that’s cause for hope’
Here’s the latest update from Steve Lyttle, the longtime Charlotte weather reporter who post on the “Weather With Steve” Facebook page. (Steve covered weather and many other things for the Charlotte Observer for many years.)
The good news? This is the final band of significant precipitation with the storm system, and the back edge of the rain/sleet is within sight. At 6 p.m., the back edge of the heaviest precipitation was moving through the Shelby area, according to National Weather Service radar.
It appears, from personal and social media observations, that a lot of the precipitation from this heavy band has fallen as sleet in the Charlotte area, rather than freezing rain. We still have a few hours to get through, but that’s cause for hope. ...
Whatever happens this evening, roads are horrible and will not improve overnight. Travel will be nearly impossible Monday morning. We’re still looking for sunshine to break through the clouds by noon, and that sun should warm temperatures into the upper 30s. The sun and above-freezing temperatures will be enough to improve road conditions. Expect secondary roads to have two sets of tracks where bare road is showing. Main roads should become mostly wet by early afternoon.
Also remember that we’ll have a deep freeze Monday night. Temperatures will drop to near 10 degrees, and that will cause everything to refreeze. Travel is likely to be really dangerous Tuesday morning, too.
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6:12 p.m. The view from Providence and Queens in Myers Park
An update from Ledger reader Nick:
Walked to Queens and Providence just now. Roads and sidewalks got worse just in the hour or so it took. Providence still OK, but Queens is starting to freeze over, I think.
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5:50 p.m. Soup time
It’s hard to decide which is colder — stepping outside into the freezing rain that is now falling, or watching the 4th quarter of this AFC Championship Game in Denver that’s being played in a blizzard.
Either way, I’ve got the antidote: soup!
We’ve had some homemade split pea soup in the crockpot all afternoon. Take a look:
Good stuff!
—Tony Mecia
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5:30 p.m. 4 counties west of Charlotte have 15% or more of their Duke Energy customers without power
There are four counties in Western N.C. and Upstate S.C. that have 15% of more of Duke Energy customers without power as of 5:15 p.m., according to Duke Energy’s outage map.
Here are the four:
Transylvania County, N.C. - 26% with no power
Henderson County, N.C. - 17% with no power
Oconee County, S.C. - 15% with no power
Pickens County, S.C. - 15% with no power
All other counties have 3% or fewer customers without power. —Tony Mecia
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5:08 p.m. Power outages in Western N.C. have doubled in the last 30 minutes
Duke Energy’s outage map says there are now nearly 33,000 customers without power in the Carolinas: 23,079 in N.C. and 9,637 in S.C.
About 1/3 — some 11,000+ without power — are in Henderson County, home to Hendersonville. It’s two hours west of Charlotte. There are also another 5,000 without power in Transylvania County (home to Brevard), where 29% of customers have no power. —Tony Mecia
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4:47 p.m. No trash collection Monday; 1-day delay this week, city says
Garbage collection in Charlotte will be delayed by a day this week, the city says.
In a news release Sunday afternoon, Charlotte’s Solid Waste Services department said:
Due to anticipated hazardous road conditions from winter weather, Solid Waste Services will not collect garbage, recycling, yard waste, or scheduled bulky items on Monday, January 26.
Service will resume Tuesday, January 27, and operate on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week.
Neighbors are asked to have carts at the curb by 6 a.m. and remember to sign up for service alerts by texting your collection day to 73224.
—Tony Mecia
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4:42 p.m. Hornets game moved to 3 p.m. Monday 🏀
Here’s something you don’t see everyday: an NBA game played in the middle of the afternoon on a Monday.
But that’s what we will have in Charlotte, as the Charlotte Hornets say their game at the Spectrum Center on Monday will be at 3 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. because of the storm.
The Hornets added:
The Hornets, local officials and the NBA will continue to monitor the situation throughout the remainder of the day and overnight, and if there are any changes to the game’s status an additional update will be provided Monday morning.
The team said fans with tickets to Monday’s game can exchange them for a ticket to a future game, with details to come on that Monday. —Tony Mecia
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4:33 p.m. Power outages rise in Western N.C. as storm moves toward Charlotte
We haven’t had many power outages here in Mecklenburg, but if you look to the west — where the storm is coming from — you’ll see outage numbers rising.
Duke Energy’s power outage map shows a little over 18,000 customers without power in the Carolina — most of whom are in the area between Greenville, S.C., and Asheville:
So those outages could be headed this way as the storm rolls in.
Here’s the latest radar from the National Weather Service (Charlotte is encircled by I-485 on the right):
In Mecklenburg, there were 96 customers without power as of 4:30 p.m. —Tony Mecia
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4:19 p.m. Not how they do it up North
We’re glad to see that the satirical publication The Charlotten is working this weekend, with this post on Instagram:
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3:37 p.m. County announces Monday office and service closures
Mecklenburg County offices and services will be closed Monday, Jan. 26, because of — you guessed it — the extreme winter weather.
According to a press release, that includes:
All Park and Recreation facilities (rec and senior centers, parks and nature preserves)
All Charlotte Mecklenburg Library locations
Solid waste and recycling centers
Valerie C. Woodard and Ella B. Scarborough community resource centers
And closed offices include:
Department of Social Services (but hotlines remain open 24/7)
Department of Community Support Services
Public Health
Land Use and Environmental Services Agency
Elections Office
Tax Collector and Assessor’s Offices
Register of Deeds Office
Also, a reminder: For power outages, call Duke Energy at 800-769-3766. For water outages, call Charlotte Water at 704-336-7600. —Lindsey Banks
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3:06 p.m. Update on flights and ice conditions at Charlotte airport
More than 950 flights have been canceled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in the last 24 hours, FlightAware.com reports.
CLT is still open and operational, with full staffing in place — but airlines are running significantly reduced schedules, and delays and cancellations are expected through the day and into Monday.
A few takeaways:
Top levels of all parking decks are closed.
Shuttle buses are still running, but on reduced schedules and at slower speeds.
The CLT Airport Overlook is closed until further notice.
Airport officials say they’re in constant communication with airlines, while snow teams work around the clock clearing runways, taxiways, roadways and sidewalks.
If you’re flying, continue to check your flight status before heading to the airport. —Lindsey Banks
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2:20 p.m. Forecast update: Heaviest ice is almost here
We’ve now got a clearer picture of what’s coming. Here are the highlights from longtime weather reporter Steve Lyttle’s latest report on his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page:
➡️ Timing: The main band is expected to move through Charlotte between 4 and 7 p.m.
➡️ What’s falling: Freezing rain looks like the primary threat, and it could come down hard. Also expect gusty winds and even a little thunder and lightning.
➡️ How much rain? Between 0.5 and 1 inch of precipitation.
➡️ How much ice? The Storm Prediction Center says an additional 0.25 and 0.5 inches of ice could accumulate. We’ve already seen about 0.10 inches, which would put totals in the 0.35 and 0.6 range. (For context: around 0.25 inches is when scattered power outages typically begin. At 0.5 inches, outages become widespread and tree damage increases.)
➡️ Power outages (so far): Outages are still pretty low in the Carolinas, but nationally, they’re nearing 1 million, including 304,000 in Tennessee.
The late-day window is the one to watch. Start charging your devices, folks. —Lindsey Banks
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2:03 p.m. NCDOT spreads 183K gallons of brine; will work 12-hour shifts
North Carolina Department of Transportation crews pretreated roads with more than 183,000 gallons of brine this week before the storm hit in Division 10 (which covers Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Stanly and Anson counties).
Now, they’re working rotating 12-hour shifts, according to a press release, continuing to spread salt and monitoring conditions. Most interstates and primary roads are partially or completely covered in ice.
The department says it has 66 NCDOT trucks and 129 contract trucks out treating major routes, with additional crews on standby to clear downed trees and coordinate with utility providers to restore power.
“The good news is, we see temperatures starting to climb throughout the day today and even into the night,” said Division Maintenance Engineer Mike Mariano in a press release. “Tomorrow, we will start to see temperatures above freezing before it drops to the single digits Monday night. We will continue to make strides to re-establish our roads in our bare pavement system through the day and into the night.”
In the meantime, officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads, and the State Highway Patrol has activated immediate towing to quickly remove stranded or abandoned vehicles that create obstacles for other drivers.
Crews say they’ll keep working around the clock to clear roads. —Lindsey Banks
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1:20 p.m. Snapshots from across the region
Ledger readers have been sending in photos of the winter weather today, getting in some outdoor excursions before the freezing rain is supposed to kick back up again. Let’s take a look at the scene across the region:
Have a photo to share? Send it to editor@cltledger.com, and we might post it on this blog. —Lindsey Banks
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12:35 p.m. When things are expected to get bad
As of noon today, most people across Charlotte still have power. But the bigger punch is expected later this afternoon, said Steve Lyttle, a longtime Charlotte weather reporter.
What’s happening in the west: A squall line of heavy participation (and possible thunder and lightning) is moving east and has already slammed Nashville. About 91% of Davidson County (Nashville area) customers were without power, and roughly 300,000 outages statewide in Tennessee, Lyttle reported.
That doesn’t mean Charlotte will see the same level of outages, he said, but it’s a clear warning sign. The heaviest band is expected to move through here between 4 and 7 p.m., so now’s the time to charge phones, tablets and backup batteries.
You might see some people online second-guessing the storm warnings and questioning meteorologists’ predictions — but this system isn’t done yet. —Lindsey Banks
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12:16 p.m. CATS suspends all service; scheduled to resume Monday
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has suspended all transit service for today (Sunday, Jan. 25).
Service is expected to resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 26), but riders should plan for delays and detours on routes where roads are still icy. Because of the later start, there will be no Express Bus service on Monday.
CATS says you’ll see ice cutter trains on the Blue Line today to help prep the tracks for Monday’s return.
Check CATS’ Inclement Weather Alerts page for real-time detours before heading out, or call customer service at 704-336-7433 with questions. —Lindsey Banks
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11:10 a.m. Grocery stores modify hours amid storm
Charlotte grocery stores are changing their operating hours in the wake of Winter Storm Fern. Here’s what we’ve learned so far:
Harris Teeter this morning said some of its stores will close early today. Here’s a list of its stores that are expected to close at 4 p.m. today. The grocer said it expects stores to reopen tomorrow at 8 a.m.
Publix‘s website has a map that shows where stores are operating under modified hours because of the storm. More than 360 locations across its network were under a modified schedule as of late morning Sunday.
Food Lion said on its website that it may experience some store closings or changes to store operating hours. It said shoppers should check individual store listings for the latest information.
Nationally, Walmart has closed 269 of its stores or clubs, and says on its website that it will “continue to closely assess conditions and operate our facilities as long as it is safe to do so.” The company has a map on its website with the latest store statuses.
If you have to make a grocery store run, please travel slowly and carefully on the roads. —Ashley Fahey
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10:46 a.m. ‘You Ask, We Answer’ — ice storm edition — Can I walk my dog in the current conditions, and for how long?
Letting your pup out for a potty break might be as simple as opening your back door, but is it safe to take your furry friend on his or her routine walk amid Charlotte’s current icy conditions? And for how long is a walk safe?
I called Charlotte Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE), a 24/7 vet clinic that’s operating through the winter storm, to ask.
Dr. Michelle Culbert, an emergency vet with CARE, told me it really depends on the dog. Short-haired breeds should potentially wear a sweater, and dogs with arthritis or that have mobility issues should wear booties. She doesn’t recommend super long walks — just long enough “for them to do their business.”
And while longer-hair dog breeds might be more insulated than their shorter-hair counterparts, they could collect ice balls in their fur, so be sure to check for those when you come back inside.
Watch out for ice patches and antifreeze on sidewalks during walks, and make sure to wipe down paw pads once you come back inside, to clean paws of salt and other grime that may have collected on pavement.
Does it matter if dogs walk on grass or pavement? Culbert said it ultimately comes down to whatever has more traction.
Longtime Charlotte weather reporter Steve Lyttle also had this to offer:
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, you and your dog are better off staying indoors as much as possible.
The AVMA says cold tolerance differs by breed, but overall, dogs are susceptible to the same problems as humans — frostbite and exposure. Long-haired breeds tend to do better, but all breeds can tolerate only so much cold air. The pads on dogs’ feet can get a form of frostbite after a while. Smaller dogs, being closer to the ground, get colder more quickly.
The other big problem is with salt and ice melt that people use to treat their sidewalks. The chemicals in those compounds can damage dogs’ feet, causing a form of burn.
Your dogs have to go out, for obvious reasons. But limit their exposure.
Bonus: For your own enjoyment, here are some photos of Ledger dogs out in the wintry mix.
—Ashley Fahey
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10:05 a.m. CATS delays service start time to noon today
Because of hazardous winter weather conditions across the Charlotte region, the Charlotte Area Transit System said it is delaying the start of its Lynx Blue Line light rail and bus service until noon today. It was originally delayed until 10 a.m.
The agency said CATS street supervisors are stationed throughout the system, monitoring road conditions. Lynx Gold Line streetcar service remains suspended.
Those who must travel using transit this weekend should use the CATS-Pass app to find the closest available bus stop and route. Transit riders can also visit the Inclement Weather Alerts page on RideTransit.org, which will provide real-time bus detours caused by changing road conditions.
CATS says it will also continue to update its CATS-Pass app and the CATS X and Facebook accounts. —Ashley Fahey
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9:38 a.m.: CMS to close schools on Monday
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools said all CMS district, school and work locations will be closed on Monday. This includes the cancellation of all school activities and programs, including Before-School Enrichment Programs and After-School Enrichment Programs.
Because this instructional day is waived by the superintendent, CMS will not be using a designated make-up instructional day on the 2025-26 academic calendar.
Here’s what else CMS had to say:
We will continue monitoring National Weather Service updates and keep families 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. You can also learn more about our Inclement Weather monitoring and procedures here.
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our top priority. Thank you for your continued support of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
(The announcement came mere minutes after Tony Mecia, Ledger executive editor, predicted a CMS closure tomorrow.) —Ashley Fahey
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9:26 a.m. How CMS evaluates canceling classes
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hasn’t yet made a call on holding Monday classes. But looking at the ground outside and the forecast, it’s hard to imagine running buses and opening schools tomorrow.
I talked on Saturday with CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill and Chief Operating Officer Tim Ivey at the school board’s retreat uptown about what goes into the decision on canceling classes.
“One of the things that we tell families is, we try to make the best decision for the holistic district,” Ivey said. “We aren’t able to localize that down to the individual neighborhoods. The operation is all interconnected.”
That means, for instance, that if roads are impassable in Huntersville but clear in Matthews, the district might have to cancel classes throughout Mecklenburg because the same bus might run in both areas, or there might be students in northern Mecklenburg who are in a magnet program further south.
Ivey said CMS will be assessing conditions this weekend. The district typically likes to make a call by 9 p.m. the night before to give families time to react, Ivey said, though that’s not always possible if CMS doesn’t have good visibility into the situation.
CMS has a new inclement weather website that answers common questions.
My take: Sometimes there are tough calls, and though it can be frustrating to parents when conditions near them appear acceptable, CMS errs on the side of safety. Hill told me CMS wants to avoid “an Atlanta situation,” a reference to a 2014 snowstorm that left thousands of students stranded in schools and on buses when the weather took an unexpected turn.
The call for Monday, though, seems easy. My money is on hearing about canceled classes by this afternoon. —Tony Mecia
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8:56 a.m. OK, so it’s not snowman-building weather, but can you ride a sled on what fell overnight?
Although some of what fell on Charlotte last night and into this morning could somewhat resemble snow, it’s not exactly ideal for most snow-day activities. But if you’ve got a good, sleet-covered hill near your home, can you go sledding on it?
Longtime Charlotte weather reporter Steve Lyttle told us this:
You can try, but it won’t be anywhere as much fun as doing it on snow. Snow is rather loosely compacted. Sleet creates a form of ice cement. It’s tightly compacted and difficult to navigate. Sleet-covered surfaces are responsible for many of the emergency room visits for people during winter storms. On a sled, it’s pretty difficult to navigate and can be dangerous if you’re near traffic (whatever traffic there is).
Bottom line: Proceed with caution if you are tempted to try it out. —Ashley Fahey
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8:10 a.m. Checking in on the region’s roads
Let’s take a look at how the roads are holding up this morning, via some of the region’s traffic cameras, as of 7:30 a.m.
Here’s I-85 at Concord Mills Boulevard:
Here’s I-85 southbound at Mile Marker 55 in Concord:
Here’s I-77 at Nations Ford Road in southwest Charlotte:
Here’s N.C. 273 at I-85 in Belmont:
You can view a bunch of the region’s traffic cams at WBTV’s website. —Tony Mecia
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7:33 a.m. Icy precipitation expected to continue today
The National Weather Service in a 4:51 a.m. update today said wintry precipitation rates for our area are expected to be highest early this morning, with another round this afternoon. The region’s Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Most of the region is forecast to receive between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of ice. That’s a downgrade from initial projections, but it’s still dangerous enough to cause widespread, long-lasting power outages.
The key concerns associated with the storm remain the same — significant ice accumulation on lines and tree limbs causing power outages. Roads covered in sleet are expected to become treacherous, likely impassable, into early this week.
“Dangerously cold winds” are coming to our area tomorrow night into Tuesday morning, which could result in hypothermia or frostbite among those exposed to the elements, according to the NWS. It could also slow storm recovery.
Lows are expected to hit 11 degrees tomorrow night in Charlotte, with the wind chill at 7 degrees. —Ashley Fahey
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7:21 a.m. OK, who has winter weather pics?
Here’s what it looked like when I woke up this morning, in south Charlotte (Olde Providence area, near Rea and Colony roads):
Here’s the scene closer to Ashley’s house in east Charlotte:
Hmm, they look pretty similar — some snow/sleet that is sticking to the ground even, notably, the roads. Seems pretty slick. I almost don’t want to walk on it, let alone drive on it.
What are you seeing? If you send pics to editor@cltledger.com, we’ll post some later. Just be sure to say where and when the photo was taken. —Tony Mecia
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7:13 a.m. Few power outages in Mecklenburg so far
As Charlotte wakes up to white and icy stuff on the ground, there are just a few power outages in Mecklenburg as of 7 a.m.
Duke Energy’s outage map shows 291 customers without power in Mecklenburg, out of 563,000. So that’s pretty good so far.
Most of those without power in Charlotte are near the intersection of Providence Road and N.C. 51 in south Charlotte, the map shows:
—Tony Mecia
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SATURDAY, JAN. 24
10:03 p.m. Freezing rain (instead of expected sleet) is coming down in Charlotte metro
Freezing rain in the Charlotte area has been observed earlier than meteorologists and weather experts initially expected. Longtime Charlotte weather reporter Steve Lyttle wrote this on his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page:
Just when the outlook seemed to be getting better …
Precipitation is breaking out across the Charlotte area. It was forecast to be sleet. In fact, it’s freezing rain. Avoiding a damaging ice storm depended on a chunk of the precipitation falling as sleet. The less freezing rain, the better. If freezing rain is going to start this early, well, that ain’t good.
Earlier this evening, some of the computer models were indicating that the freezing rain totals might have been over-estimated for our region. That was hopeful.
But often in these cases, real-time observations don’t look like the computer models.
Brad Panovich, chief meteorologist at WCNC, had a similar observation in his most recent video update on Instagram:
Additionally, the National Weather Service this evening said that travel conditions are expected to “deteriorate quickly” tonight as wintry precipitation spreads east from the mountains.
“Roads and other surfaces may become icy in a short period of time as temperatures continue to fall and freezing rain spreads toward the I-85 corridor through midnight,” the NWS wrote.
We’ll be keeping an eye on what happens overnight and let you know when we learn more. Stay safe, Charlotte! —Ashley Fahey
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9:40 p.m. You can use this weekend’s downtime to nominate someone for 40 Over 40
Shameless plug: If you’re hunkering down this weekend and looking for something to do, why not take a minute and nominate someone for The Charlotte Ledger’s 40 Over 40 awards?
We’re recognizing 40 people aged 40+ who are making Charlotte a better place. You must know someone who fits that description?
Check out the nomination form. It’s quick and easy. —Tony Mecia
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9:15 p.m. Light rail, bus service operating on a delay tomorrow
Lynx Blue Line and city bus service will begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow because of anticipated road and weather conditions in the morning, the Charlotte Area Transit System said this evening.
Lynx Gold Line streetcar service has already been suspended for the entire weekend. A bus bridge is not in place because of weather conditions, according to CATS.
Those who must use transit this weekend should use the CATS-Pass app to find the closest available bus stop and route. There may be delays and detours. If possible, consider delaying travel until the winter storm has passed, CATS said in a statement.
Riders should visit the transit agency’s Inclement Weather Alerts page at onRideTransit.org, which will provide real-time bus detours because of road conditions. CATS says it will also provide updates on the CATS-Pass app and its official CATS X and Facebook accounts.
Customers using transit this weekend should be mindful of slippery conditions while boarding and exiting transit vehicles. Stairs at Park & Ride locations will be closed, but elevators are operational.
For questions or concerns, riders should call 704-366-7433. —Ashley Fahey
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8:53 p.m. 1,000+ flights canceled at CLT; overlook closed ‘until further notice’
Flight cancellations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport keep climbing, with a total of — so far — 459 today, 1,069 tomorrow and 54 on Monday, according to FlightAware. Delays at CLT today have totaled 121 so far.
Nationally, there’ve been 4,477 flight cancellations today and 9,687 tomorrow.
Earlier today, American Airlines actually added thousands of additional seats between CLT and Chicago O’Hare to try to get travelers to where they need to be before the storm. American is the dominant carrier at CLT, operating some 90% of flights.
CLT on its Instagram today said it closed its overlook at 4 p.m. today, and that it will remain closed “until further notice.” In the same post, it advised travelers to check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport, and that parking decks and lots will remain open and pretreated with deicing materials.
The Sullenberger Aviation Museum (on the grounds of CLT) also announced that it will be closed tomorrow. The museum said it expects to reopen to the public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. —Ashley Fahey
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8:21 p.m. What do you have questions about?
Some precipitation has begun to fall in the Charlotte metro, although most of the effects we’ve all been preparing for aren’t expected to ramp up until later this evening.
What are you seeing? What are you wondering? Send us an email at editor@cltledger.com or tell us about it in the comments.
—Ashley Fahey
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7:49 p.m. What to stream this weekend (if you still have power)
As Charlotteans batten down the hatches ahead of what’s still widely expected to be an ice storm, The Ledger staff is coming in hot with streaming recommendations. For reasons beyond boredom-crushing, we hope your power remains on through the weekend — but since most of us will be stuck at home, here’s what we recommend:
ASHLEY: The Oscar nominations were announced on Thursday, and many are already available to stream. Check out Best Picture nominees “Sinners” (Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max), “One Battle After Another” (HBO Max), “Frankenstein” (Netflix), “Train Dreams” (Netflix), “Bugonia” (Peacock) and “F1” (Apple TV).
Is it too on the nose to recommend movies with snow and ice settings? Well, I’m doing it anyway. I personally love “The Shining” (Peacock), “Misery” (Peacock), “The Thing” (AMC+), “Let the Right One In” (Amazon Prime Video), Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” (Amazon Prime Video) or the aforementioned “Frankenstein.” And, OK, if you don’t love horror movies as much as I do but still want winter weather vibes, might I suggest “Frozen” (Disney+), “Anastasia” (Disney+), “Fargo” (HBO Max), “The Gold Rush” (Amazon Prime Video) or “The Cutting Edge” (MGM+)?
LINDSEY: I recently binged “His & Hers” on Netflix and highly recommend. (It’s a six-episode limited series. Small-town murder mystery set outside of Atlanta. Great twist at the end.) This weekend, you’ll find me (electricity-willing) watching the latest episode of “The Pitt” (HBO Max) and “Abbott Elementary” (Hulu and Disney+), and the season finale of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Hulu and Disney+). Oh, and I’ll 100% be rewatching “People We Meet on Vacation,” Netflix’s newest rom-com.
TONY: I was initially told I could not submit my recommendations because I had never heard of “Sinners,” so I appreciate the opportunity! If you’re looking for something somewhere in between Ashley’s goth vampire horror and Lindsey’s lightweight rom-com — and you’re into the action/thriller genres — you could start bingeing these:
“Slow Horses” (Apple TV+) – a British dark comedy/spy thriller about ragtag MI5 agents
“The Diplomat” (Netflix) – a little full of itself, but a solid political action/drama
“Yellowstone” (Peacock) – a modern Western drama with beautiful vistas. I have a “Don’t Make Me Call Rip” T-shirt I bought at Buc-ee’s.
“All Her Fault” (Peacock) – a gripping and entertaining psychological thriller with feminist overtones
Other binge-able action thrillers I have enjoyed are “Fauda” (Netflix), “Tehran” (Apple TV+) and “The Night Agent” (Netflix).
(Ashley, who tries to go out to see a movie most weekends, still cannot believe Tony has not even heard of “Sinners” — but she is willing to try to let this go in the spirit of team cooperation.)
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7:22 p.m. Safety first with gas appliances
We’ve heard from some folks who are dealing with propane, generators and the potential for a prolonged power outage for the first time. It’s worth reminding people that there are legitimate dangers associated with using these devices — namely, the “silent killer,” carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine is not working or vented properly. It’s called the silent killer because carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, tasteless and nonirritating, but prolonged exposure to or high concentrations of it can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, suffocation or even death.
Charlotte Fire has some safety tips for people planning to use fuel-burning appliances for heat or food preparation in the event of a power outage:
Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home. These alarms should be in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home. (It’s probably a little late to go out and buy alarms now, but perhaps consider a quick test of existing alarms.)
Never use a gas or charcoal grill indoors. (Or a turkey fryer)
Make sure vents for dryers, furnaces, stoves and fireplaces are clear of debris.
Only use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from doors, windows and vents.
Do not use a generator in a wet area.
Connect appliances using heavy-duty extension cords.
If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if your garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked.
Additionally, do not use gas appliances like a stove or an oven to heat your home, as that can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Depending on your appliance and model, you might be able to use a gas stovetop for cooking during a power outage. But the pilot light (the “click” you hear when you turn the dial on a gas stove) uses an electric mechanism to start the burner’s flames. That, of course, will not work during an outage, but you may be able to light the flame yourself. I know it’s cold outside, but consider opening a window for ventilation.
Before you do any of this, consult instructions (in your owner’s manual — hopefully it’s still in your kitchen junk drawer!) on how to light your stovetop safely. (Shoutout to the Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board for the crash course in gas safety during a power outage!) —Ashley Fahey
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6:58 p.m. How the storm is impacting other parts of the United States
The sun has set on Saturday. The Charlotte region now waits to see what it’ll wake up to when it rises again tomorrow.
Today, I’ve heard from friends in other parts of the country (one was dealing with 1-degree weather and snow in the Kansas City metro, another was preparing for what could be a massive snowstorm in Brooklyn, N.Y.). It got me wondering: What is this storm, which is affecting about half of the United States, doing elsewhere?
It’s important to keep in mind that the storm’s impacts will be different everywhere.
But the states of Texas and Louisiana each have about 50,000 people without power, according to PowerOutage.com. That’s less than 1% of all people in Texas but about 2.16% of Louisiana residents, according to the website. A New York Times reporter wrote on the publication’s live blog that northern Louisiana has been seeing freezing rain. That state is under an ice storm warning until Sunday. (Reminder, the Charlotte metro is under an ice storm warning until 1 p.m. Monday).
At least 22 states and the District of Columbia have declared states of emergency.
A 4 p.m. report from the Weather Prediction Center (part of the National Weather Service) said moderate to heavy snow was falling from the Central Plains eastward to Tennessee and the Ohio Valleys. The region that includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and northern Mississippi was seeing a mix of sleet and freezing rain. “Bitterly cold” temperatures in the single digits and teens were also reported across many of the areas seeing impacts from the winter storm.
Back to Charlotte: Here’s the latest winter weather impact prediction from WCNC’s chief meteorologist Brad Panovich:
—Ashley Fahey
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6:20 p.m. 18,000+ Duke Energy workers ready to respond, parked at Carowinds
More than 18,000 workers are on stand-by to respond to power outages across the state this weekend, according to Ben Williamson of Duke Energy.
Williamson posted a video on LinkedIn yesterday, saying Duke has 12 staging sites across North Carolina, one of which has set up shop at Carowinds, with about 800 powerline trucks.
Ice and freezing rain accumulation is expected to cause widespread and long-lasting power outages. —Lindsey Banks
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5:37 p.m. S.C. liquor store offers ‘chilling’ discounts
For whatever reason, people tend to flock to liquor stores ahead of major weather events. (I heard a TV reporter ask a pedestrian today about her storm essentials and her first two items were beer and wine. “Oh, and bread and milk,” she quickly added.)
Southern Spirits, a South Carolina liquor store just outside of Charlotte, is doing the opposite of price-gouging; it’s slashing prices on select products in the name of snow and ice, according to an Instagram post.
The “snowpocalypse” deals include:
The Prisoner (wine), down $6 to $25.99
Widow Jane The Vaults (bourbon), down $50 to $249.99
Tamdhu Cask Strength (scotch), down $52 to $73.99
FYI: The store closes at 7 p.m. today. —Lindsey Banks
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5:01 p.m. Harris Teeter will close at 8 p.m. today
If you’re planning a last-minute grocery run before the storm rolls in, take note: many Harris Teeter stores will close early tonight at 8 p.m.
Click here for the full list of stores closing early.
The plan is to reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday), weather permitting, according to a statement posted on the Charlotte-based grocery chain’s social media accounts.
As of 5 p.m. today, Food Lion, Publix, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s stores in the Charlotte area appear to be operating with normal closing hours, according to hours listed online. —Lindsey Banks
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4:29 p.m. New warming shelter opens
Another warming shelter will open tonight for anyone who needs it — including pets.
Starting at 7 p.m., the Grady Cole Center, located at 310 N. Kings Drive, will serve as a warm, powered, staffed shelter with basic meals and public health nurses on site. The Sheriff’s Office and county security will also be there.
The shelter is run by the American Red Cross, with support from Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and Emergency Management.
Other open warming shelters include:
Roof Above on Statesville Avenue, open to men only
The Salvation Army on Spratt Street, open for women and children
BlockLoveCLT on North Graham Street has a day service center available for people to escape the cold
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses are offering free rides to all warming shelters — just tell them where you want to go. —Lindsey Banks
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4 p.m. New forecast shows slightly less ice in southeast Mecklenburg
New predictions show roughly a quarter-inch less of ice and freezing rain accumulation in the southern parts of Mecklenburg County, according to the National Weather Service and local meteorologists.
The Charlotte area could see anywhere between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of ice accumulation over the weekend. Earlier this morning, accumulation totals were predicted to be between 0.5 and 0.75 inches.
A quarter-inch may not seem like a huge difference, but it could potentially mean fewer power outages and quicker road recovery. It’s still too soon to tell for sure, so expect and prepare for the worst. —Lindsey Banks
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3:45 p.m. Winter storm timeline
WCNC chief meteorologist Brad Panovich shared an infographic earlier this afternoon of the storm’s timeline. Panovich says sleet and roads shouldn’t get bad until 7 or 8 p.m., and the freezing rain is predicted to end by tomorrow night.
Check it out:
—Lindsey Banks
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3:03 p.m. American adds 3,000 extra seats to flights today
American Airlines has added 3,000 additional seats between the Charlotte airport (CLT) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) today to help travelers leave before the storm hits.
The additional CLT-to-ORD departures are stacked throughout the afternoon and evening, starting at 2:15 p.m. and running as late as 8 p.m. today.
American added over 3,200 seats to and from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) before the storm on Friday and after the storm on Sunday, bringing its total added capacity during the storm to more than 6,200 seats across its network.
All of the extra sections must be booked by calling American’s reservations line at 800-433-7300. —Lindsey Banks
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2:35 p.m. DIY heat sources + last minute prep ideas
We’ve got a few hours before the weather gets serious, which means there’s still time to make last-minute preparations. I’ll be waiting out the storm with my parents, two brothers and dog, and we’ve got a few DIY ideas that wouldn’t hurt if you have the supplies lying around.
Set up a camping tent in the living room: My father just brought in his four-man camping tent in case we lose power and get desperate. It’s a smaller, insulated space, so the idea is that our body heat would eventually warm up the tent and help us fight the cold.
If you have pets, lay down a tarp outside: I have a miniature dachshund who is very particular about where he uses the restroom. We’ve picked a section of grass right outside the back door and covered it with a tarp to protect it from ice buildup. We’ll pull it up every time my dog needs to go out, and then cover it back up.
Make a DIY heat lamp for a small room: In a pinch, you can make an emergency, no-electricity-required heater if you have the right materials. Here’s a quick YouTube video on how to make one, but you’ll need bricks (or my mom uses bread pans), clay pots (like terra cotta flower pots), tea lights and a lighter/matches. It’s not going to heat a whole house, so pick the smallest room you’ve got. Don’t leave it unattended, protect whatever surface you set it on, and make sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Fill up your car: This probably goes without saying, but make sure all of your vehicles have a full tank of gas. If you lose power and can’t get warm inside your home, sit in your car for periods of time to warm back up. You can also use your car to charge devices.
And a Ledger reader suggestion — protect your HVAC unit from freezing rain: If you’ve got some plywood sitting around, you can create a shield for your HVAC unit by propping the plywood up with bricks or pieces of wood to ensure air flow. It’ll protect it from freezing rain and ice, which could shut down the machine and stop air circulation. Make sure to monitor it though and check that your covering hasn’t fallen flat on top of the unit.
Be careful, stay vigilant and if you lose power, limit opening your doors as much as possible. —Lindsey Banks
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1:45 p.m. ‘You Ask, We Answer’ — ice storm edition — Does Duke Energy work on power lines during the storm or wait until it has passed?
This live blog is a conversation, and you’re a part of it. So if you have a question we can try to answer, ask away!
We received a question this morning from Ledger reader Roland. He asks:
Does Duke start repairing while ice is still forming, or do they wait for all the damage to occur?
That’s a good question, as this wintry mix is supposed to last for more than 24 hours after starting tonight. And there might be periods where it freezes, thaws, then freezes again.
We put the question to Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks, who sheds light on how Duke approaches restoring power during a storm:
Our goal is to always begin restoring power as soon as it’s safe to do so. In a winter storm, safety is paramount, so if roads are becoming challenging and ice accumulating, that could delay our ability to get out to restore power. We typically will do some restorations up to a point and then shelter the crews once it is no longer safe to work. Likewise, once roads become impassable, it can limit our ability to be able to get to certain outages until those road conditions change.
So, it is realistic to assume there will be some delays and challenges given the extreme conditions we will be facing, but we will work to restore power as quickly as we can given our primary focus on the safety of our crews. We’ve also brought in specialized equipment even beyond our bucket trucks such as tracked vehicles, drones and even helicopters that can help our crews in the field access outages once it’s safe for work to begin.
And there you have it! Sounds as though Duke plans to do its best while ensuring the safety of the work crews.
I just want to say that nobody appreciates Duke’s heroic power restoration crews more than me and my neighbors over here off easy-to-access Rea Road near Olde Providence Elementary in south Charlotte. 👏
Do you have a question that we can try to answer? Drop us a line at editor@cltledger.com, or drop it in the comments:
—Tony Mecia
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1:06 p.m. Storm’s unfortunate timing has power outages ramping up during NFC and AFC Championship games
It’s true that a lot of people right now are preparing their homes for what might lie ahead.
But I’m just going to go ahead and say what’s on the minds of a lot of people: Will this storm interfere with watching tomorrow’s NFL playoff games?
The timing seems to be lining up that way.
We’re in the stage of the playoffs where we’re down to four teams, and they all play tomorrow. The New England Patriots play at the Denver Broncos at 3 p.m. Eastern, followed by the Los Angeles Rams at the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 p.m. The winners go to the Super Bowl on Feb. 8.
The wintry mix, composed mostly of freezing rain, is expected to start tonight and continue through tomorrow. As it falls, it turns to ice, and those ice accumulations are expected to take down tree limbs and power lines. Some power could go out tonight, with more likely later in the day on Sunday — perhaps right during that prime game time.
There’s still time to make friends with a neighbor who has a generator, just in case. —Tony Mecia
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12:51 p.m. Reminder: this live blog is fueled by reader support
Just a friendly public service announcement that this Charlotte Weather Watch blog is being provided for free by The Charlotte Ledger. Our team will be working through the weekends and evenings to keep you up to date.
We can employ experienced journalists to cover this storm as a service to the Charlotte community because of the support of our paying subscribers.
If you’re a Ledger paying member, thank you. And if not — why not join us today?
(You can sample the goods — smart, local information and insights about Charlotte — on our website.)
Another option: If you’re not ready to subscribe to The Ledger, you can show your support for this storm effort with a donation in our tip jar:
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11:50 a.m. Panovich says now is ‘go time’ to run errands until 5 p.m.; sleet and light snow to start between 6-9 p.m.
In a social media post this morning, WCNC’s Brad Panovich gave a breakdown of how Saturday is expected to go:
Now - 5 PM: This is your “Go Time.” Roads are fine. If you need groceries, medication, or to check on a neighbor, do it now.
6 PM - 9 PM: The sleet or even light snow begins. Cold air is wedging in at the surface while moisture overrides it.
9 PM - 11 PM: This is when the freezing rain could cross the metro. Once we drop below 32°, that rain or sleet will turn to freezing rain on contact.
As far as last-minute preparation tips, he says:
Prepare for outages that could last days, not just hours.
Charge your phones, laptops, and tablets now. If you have a power bank, top it off.
Plan to stay home tomorrow.
Bring in anything loose from the yard.
—Tony Mecia
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11:05 a.m. If you want to work out while shut in, the next exercise is … burpees every minute, ‘Dark Helmet’ says
If the streets and sidewalks are icy, as expected for the next few days, what can you do to get a good workout without leaving the house?
We put that question to the leader of men’s workout group F3 Nation, which is used to adapting to conditions to do cardio and strength training. (You might have seen these people out early in the pre-dawn morning at schools and running through neighborhoods.)
F3 part-time CEO Frank Schwartz, whose workout nickname is “Dark Helmet,” says his recommendations are:
10 burpees “EMOM” — “every minute on the minute” — until you can’t anymore. For the uninitiated, a burpee is where you drop into a squat, kick your feet back into a plank, do a push-up, jump your feet forward and explosively jump straight up.
A “classic deck of cards workout” in which the number and suit combine to tell you what to do:
Hearts: pushups
Diamonds: squats
Clubs: situps/crunches
Spades: jumping jacks
Jokers: 5 burpees
Pro tip: If you’re planning to get sweaty indoors, you might consult first with others in your household if you lose power and have no hot water and don’t plan to shower. —Tony Mecia, whose F3 workout nickname is “Antonio Table”
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10:39 a.m. Duke Energy lineworkers ready to go; says customers could experience ‘more than one outage’ in next few days
Duke Energy says it has 18,000 crew members ready to respond to the expected power outages this weekend.
It’s a group that includes “Duke Energy and contracted lineworkers, vegetation specialists and storm support staff from 27 U.S. states and Canada,” the Charlotte-based utility said in an email to customers on Saturday.
It also warned customers to expect outages — even outages after the storm passes, or multiple outages:
Even after the storm exits our area, customers could experience more than one outage due to shifting weather conditions, ice accumulation and falling trees or limbs. For some, outages may be extended and last multiple days, particularly in areas where unsafe road conditions limit access for our crews. Frigid temperatures are forecast for the entire week, so thawing might be limited.
Duke reiterated calls for residents to review emergency plans and supplies, avoid downed power lines and practice safe heating and generator use. —Tony Mecia
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9:52 a.m. Answering reader questions: Do you need to fill up your bathtub before the storm hits?
We’ve gotten a few questions from readers who wondered whether they should fill up their bathtubs with water, or why they should be buying bottled water when they could fill their tubs.
We put the question to our friend and longtime Charlotte weather reporter Steve Lyttle, who writes the “Weather With Steve” Facebook page.
Addressing the issue, he wrote:
My initial reaction was that it sounded like a good idea for people who rely on electricity to supply their water. But after talking to some experts on the matter, maybe we all should consider it.
Here’s the reason ... Typically, the water won’t freeze in your pipes, even the pipes that are exposed to outdoor cold. That’s because the heat in your home keeps things warm enough. But what happens when the power (and heat) go out? You could get frozen spots in the pipes, cutting off the water supply.
So you might want to fill the bath tub, which would give you a water supply to flush toilets. For those of you with gas stoves (or those of you who plan to use outdoor grills to cook food -- outdoors!), the water can be heated and used for coffee or tea.
One more thing. With temperatures forecast to drop below 10 degrees Monday night, you’ll want to keep a couple of your spigots dripping water all the time. That will keep the water flowing through your pipes and help prevent ice from forming.
—Tony Mecia
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8:17 a.m. From the airport: 418 cancellations involving CLT as storm moves through Central U.S.
As expected, the number of flight cancellations at Charlotte’s airport is rising.
According to flight tracking site FlightAware, 418 flights to or from CLT had been canceled as of 8 a.m. (It’s about evenly split between arrivals and departures — 217 from CLT and 201 from other airports headed to CLT.)
That’s likely because the winter storm headed to Charlotte is already hitting states to our west, including Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Here’s the radar from the National Weather Service as of 7:50 a.m. Saturday:
The National Weather Service says:
Wintry mix, freezing rain and snow are now falling across much of the Central U.S. and conditions will continue to intensify in the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys through the day. … Either heavy snow or ice is forecast for 34 states from the storm, from Arizona to the Midwest, South and New England. Its impacts will linger for some time after the storm ends.
—Tony Mecia
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7:03 a.m. Overnight forecast: National Weather Service reiterates ice forecast; slight timing shift
The National Weather Service is out with its latest forecast and — tell me if you’ve heard this before — the call is for a lot of freezing rain.
This morning’s update, released just before 4 a.m., is similar to the ones released in the last few days.
One difference seems to be the timing. While the earlier forecasts had the precipitation arriving Saturday afternoon, the latest forecast says it’s likely to be around 6 p.m. in Charlotte, and it is expected to last until about midnight Sunday night. But “the timing could still change,” the forecast says.
It adds: “The best overall chances of wintry precipitation, and the fastest rates of accumulation, at this time are Saturday night and Sunday evening.”
It is still calling for accumulations of between 0.5 and 0.75 inches of ice from freezing rain, which would cause “widespread and long-lasting power outages” and produce “treacherous, likely impassable ice- and sleet-covered roads lasting into the early next week.” There’s also less than an inch of sleet predicted.
➡️ You can read the full forecast here.
FRIDAY, JAN. 23
7:21 p.m. How long until roads are safe again?
As we head into the weekend, WCNC is already answering viewers’ questions about what to expect once this winter storm has passed and how long it will take for the roads to be safe to drive on again. You can watch the segment here, or read on for the major takeaways.
According to WCNC chief meteorologist Brad Panovich, the cold air coming behind the storm will impact how quickly (or slowly, in this case) roads improve. While the sun is our best bet for snow and ice removal, long stretches of cold overnight temperatures combined with daily refreezing could create black ice and slick spots each morning for much of next week.
WCNC says it could take all week for conditions to improve, especially because not all roads are treated equally. Main roads are more likely to be plowed, but many neighborhood streets aren’t part of the plan or budget. Those areas could still be icy until Thursday, Friday or possibly even next Saturday.
If you need to get out at some point, plan ahead and keep in mind that black ice may linger well into next week. —Lindsey Banks
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6:50 p.m. Round-up of storm preparation tips
OK, we’ve got tips galore for getting ready for this storm.
Let’s review:
General home prep tips (food, lighting, heating)
Is there anything we missed? What else do you want to know? Email editor@cltledger.com, or leave a note in the comments.
We heard from a reader who wishes we had shared some of these earlier. The storm is expected to hit the Charlotte area on Saturday afternoon, so there is still time to make some of the preparations. —Tony Mecia
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Why not tell a friend about this blog?
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6:07 p.m. Charlotte storm TikToks are going viral
While some folks are in storm-is-coming, time-to-hunker-down mode, others are taking to social media — TikTok in particular — to share their thoughts about it. We’ve rounded up a few that we think are a little funny (even though ice is no laughing matter) and make some good points (like why do storms always seem to come on the weekend?).
The scene at midtown Trader Joe’s:
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Snow/ice on the weekends:
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Grocery store shelves:
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The true essentials, besides milk and bread:
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Charlotte-coded ice prep (warning, this video is AI):
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—Lindsey Banks
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5:19 p.m. More than 200 flights at CLT canceled
So far, 154 flights scheduled for Saturday and 102 flights on Sunday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport have been canceled, according to FlightAware.
These numbers are expected to rise. The Ledger will keep you updated as we learn more.
The Charlotte region is bracing for an ice storm expected to start sometime Saturday afternoon or evening and peak on Sunday. But roads and travel are expected to be dangerous even heading into the workweek.
CLT said yesterday that the airport will remain open and operational through the storm, but travelers should expect significant impacts across the network. Many airlines are also waiving change fees.
American Airlines, the dominant carrier at CLT, says customers can reschedule flights on American’s mobile app, at aa.com or by contacting Reservations at 800-433-7300. —Ashley Fahey
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4:47 p.m. Afternoon forecast update: National Weather Service sticks with predictions of heavy ice; travel to be ‘dangerous or impossible,’ power outages could last ‘several days’
New forecast maps this afternoon from the National Weather Service are continuing to show ice accumulations of 0.5-0.75 inches, enough to take down tree limbs and power lines.
In a social media post, the National Weather Service said:
the forecast shows widespread 1/2”+, which will lead to dangerous road conditions, downed tree limbs/branches and powerlines. POWER OUTAGES will be widespread, possibly lasting several days. …
Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is strongly discouraged. Commerce will likely be severely impacted.
It said that if you have to drive during icy conditions, you should pack your vehicle with:
a flashlight
food
blankets
water
Here is a National Weather Service graphic showing the different effects of varying amounts of ice accumulation:
—Tony Mecia
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4:22 p.m. Park and Rec facilities to close at 3 p.m. tomorrow
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation sent an alert through its app on Friday afternoon, saying that all of its facilities will close at 3 p.m. tomorrow and remain closed through Sunday. An update on possible closures or delays for Monday and Tuesday will be sent once conditions have been assessed, according to the app alert.
It directed users to its website for more information on closures.
The closure includes recreation and senior centers, parks, nature preserves and nature centers. Additional county service changes or closures/delays for the week of Jan. 26 will be determined and announced by Sunday, the county said in a statement. —Ashley Fahey
Library will close 2 hours early tomorrow
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library posted on its website that libraries will close two hours early tomorrow (Saturday) at 3:00 p.m. As usual, libraries will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 25. —Lindsey Banks
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3:43 p.m. You might not be going to work on Monday, so be prepared to work from home
If you’re working in the office today, you should probably be making plans for not working in the office on Monday. Or perhaps even Tuesday and beyond.
That’s because forecasters are saying that even though the freezing rain/sleet/snow mixture is supposed to stop by early Monday morning, the temperatures will still be below freezing, which means that roads are expected to be slick for several days afterward.
So you might think about taking home that laptop and anything you need to work from home early next week. (An alternate plan would be leaving that work at the office, so as to free up time for Netflix and projects around the house, assuming you have power.) —Tony Mecia
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3:10 p.m. Let’s hear from you: Biggest worry about the storm?
We’d like this live blog to be interactive. It’s not just us pumping information to you. We want to hear what’s on your mind. You can drop us a line at editor@cltledger.com or respond in the comments (word bubble toward top of post).
Let’s kick off the discussion with this poll:
Let us know! You can check back on the results. We’ll post them later. —Tony Mecia
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2:58 p.m. So much for Dry January: Mecklenburg ABC Board anticipating ‘uptick’ in liquor sales Friday and Saturday
OK, so we know that there are runs going on right now on bread and milk.
But what about the booze?
We put that question to the Mecklenburg County ABC Board, which runs the liquor stores in the county. A spokeswoman said it’s too early to tell, but that they’re expecting last-minute liquor-buyers to show up today and tomorrow ahead of the predicted Saturday evening weather mayhem.
Here’s the statement from Cherise Walker, the board’s chief of staff:
It’s still too early to say definitively whether we’re seeing a storm-driven surge in sales and foot traffic. We have been trending a bit higher in sales for January over January 2025 so this increase may reflect a continuation here rather than weather-related purchasing.
That said, based on past patterns, we do anticipate a potential uptick in sales later today and into tomorrow morning as customers prepare for the forecasted weather, and we’ll continue to monitor activity closely.
January is typically the slowest month for liquor sales. Mecklenburg ABC sold $18.9M in liquor in January 2025, or 35% less than its busiest month, December, according to state data. —Tony Mecia
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2:17 p.m. Emergency Management Office: Stay home, make a plan and don’t bring charcoal grills into your homes
The key message at a Friday afternoon media briefing led by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office: Stay home this weekend.
“It’s critical that residents take steps now to prepare before conditions start to deteriorate,” said John Lipsack, Charlotte Fire’s battalion chief.
He said people should ensure they have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. There was a fatal fire in the south end of town this morning, and the structure involved had no working smoke alarms, Lipsack said.
Division Chief and Deputy Director Robert Graham, several times in his remarks, brought up the 2002 ice storm, one of the most significant winter weather events to ever hit Charlotte, to which the upcoming storm has been compared. He said the 2002 ice storm was, up until that time, the busiest time for Charlotte Fire in its history.
“After Helene, we don’t take anything for granted,” Graham said. “All of the meteorologists that we talk to, and there’s quite a few of them, have nothing good to say about this storm, and we are very concerned.”
The storm is expected to be a multi-day event, he added.
This is not the kind of winter storm where kids should be playing outside, Graham said, adding people should not be on or anywhere near roads. Personnel from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte Fire and Medic need to be able to get to work and to respond to emergencies, he added.
The Emergency Operations Center will activate tomorrow afternoon, Graham said. Price gouging — “always an issue during storms,” Graham said — is prohibited under the state of emergency issued across North Carolina.
“We’re going to be fine, but we need people to listen and please stay off the roads, take care of yourself, your neighbors and your family,” he said.
Other tips offered during the briefing:
Make a plan and check in with family members and neighbors.
Charlotte Fire is expecting to see issues like burst pipes because of the storm. Graham said 311 will be open over the entire weekend, which people should call for non-emergency government assistance.
Build a kit that includes food, water, medications, batteries, flashlights and other essentials.
Have two to three ways of getting news.
Stay away from any downed power lines — assume they are live and dangerous.
Expect the internet to be down, so consider having a radio to get information.
Fully charge cellphones.
If you plan to use a generator, know how to operate it, make sure it is not inside and that it is 20 feet away from other structures.
Don’t use charcoal stoves, turkey fryers or drywall heaters indoors for warmth or food preparation. “That is not a good idea,” Graham said. “Make sure you know what you’re doing if you run out of power.”
Sign up for CharMeck Alerts for the latest updates from the city and county.
—Ashley Fahey
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1:46 p.m. CMS cancels weekend school activities; Charlotte-area districts waiting on decision on Monday classes
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is canceling weekend activities throughout the district and says it is still watching weather conditions before making a call on Monday classes.
In a statement shared with parents and the media, CMS said:
Due to the winter weather warnings and the potential for snow, sleet, and freezing rain this weekend, all field trips, athletic events, and Community Use of Schools activities scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25, are canceled.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and will keep families 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.
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our top priority. Thank you for your continued support of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
The Charlotte Observer reported this afternoon that several other school districts have canceled weekend activities. As of Friday afternoon, none has yet canceled Monday classes. —Tony Mecia
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12:53 p.m. Ice storm warning issued; most of the freezing rain expected Sunday, with travel ‘nearly impossible’
The National Weather Service has issued a rare Ice Storm Warning for the Charlotte region, as forecasts continue to call for freezing rain that is expected to fall mostly on Sunday and cause widespread power outages.
It’s the first Ice Storm Warning in the Charlotte region since 2005, WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Former longtime Charlotte Observer weather reporter Steve Lyttle, on his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page, broke down the latest forecast like this:
While the exact amounts of sleet and ice accumulation are still up for debate, it’s pretty clear now that the Charlotte region is facing a winter storm that will make travel nearly impossible and will leave many of us without power.
An Ice Storm Warning has been issued for all of our region from 1 p.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Monday, although it appears as if the freezing rain portion of this storm is most likely for the immediate Charlotte area on Sunday. Frankly, I can’t remember the last time an Ice Storm Warning was issued for our region.
Between 0.5 and 0.75 of an inch of ice accumulation is forecast, and that would be enough for widespread power outages. The forecast ice accumulation is in the same ballpark as with the December 2002 ice storm that left 1.8 million customers without electricity.
Here’s what we know right now about the projected timing of everything:
TODAY: We’ll have a few showers, but they’re just meteorological “noise,” since temperatures are in the 40s. Today is a time to prepare.
SATURDAY BEFORE 6 PM: Cloudy and cold, but dry.
6 PM SATURDAY: Precipitation arrives from the southwest. It might begin as snow but will change quickly to sleet.
6 PM-MIDNIGHT SATURDAY: Sleet, possibly heavy at times. A reminder that sleet creates concrete-like ice on roads and sidewalks. So travel will become increasingly difficult and maybe impossible.
MIDNIGHT-NOON SUNDAY: Sleet continues, probably mixing with freezing rain before daybreak. We’ll see more freezing rain and less sleet after daybreak.
NOON-MIDNIGHT SUNDAY: Freezing rain continues, but it gradually will taper off to drizzle by midnight.
WHEN WILL THE POWER GO OUT? Not everyone will lose power, but a lot of people might. The outages are likely to start appearing around mid-afternoon Sunday. They’ll increase rapidly Sunday evening. Keep in mind that freezing drizzle is as bad, if not worse than, freezing rain. Ice accumulations are more rapid with drizzle and light rain.
WHAT ABOUT MONDAY? The sun will come out, and temperatures will climb above freezing. That will help melt some of the sleet on the roadways, but roads are likely to remain generally dangerous.
Then we’ll have an extremely cold night, with temperatures probably dropping into the single digits.
A bit more of the ice will melt Tuesday, with highs again in the upper 30s. But it could be midweek before roads get into semi-decent shape again.
The latest on the ice from the National Weather Service:
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11:20 a.m. Reminder: this live blog is fueled by Charlotte Ledger members
Just a friendly public service announcement that this Charlotte Weather Watch blog is being provided for free by The Charlotte Ledger. We can employ experienced journalists to cover this storm as a service to the Charlotte community because of the support of our paying subscribers.
If you’re a Ledger paying member, thank you. And if not — why not join us today?
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10:49 a.m. Blumenthal adjusts weekend performances
Blumenthal Arts, which operates multiple performing arts venues in Charlotte, said scheduled performances this weekend of “Spamalot” (which is playing at Belk Theater in uptown) and The Magicians Table (at Blume Studios just outside of uptown) have been altered ahead of expected inclement weather this weekend. Here are the changes:
Spamalot:
Saturday’s 2 p.m. show will proceed as scheduled
Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. show has been rescheduled to Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday’s 1:00 p.m. show has been rescheduled to Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. show has been rescheduled to Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
All impacted ticket holders will receive an email with additional details, according to a Blumenthal Arts spokesperson.
All Saturday and Sunday performances of The Magicians Table have been canceled. Impacted ticket holders will receive an email to select a new performance. —Ashley Fahey
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9:55 a.m. Atrium says it has emergency plans in place; ERs will be open 24/7, call your doctor’s office if you need to reschedule
Atrium Health says it’s ready for the foul weather. Atrium, which operates Carolinas Medical Center and hospitals in University City, Pineville, Cabarrus County, Union County and others, said in a statement to The Ledger:
We are monitoring the weather closely and have comprehensive emergency management plans in place to ensure patients get the care they need while maintaining safety for our patients, visitors and teammates during severe weather events.
Should patients need to reschedule an appointment, we ask that they contact their provider’s office directly. If weather affects our normal operations, patients will be notified directly.
Our emergency departments remain open 24/7. In the event of a medical emergency, individuals should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
We put the same question about hospital readiness to Novant Health, the region’s other primary hospital operator. While we assume they are implementing similar plans, we have not heard back, but we will share that info if and when we get it. —Tony Mecia
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9:23 a.m. Roads prepped ahead of storm; 5,000 tons of salt, 2 million gallons of brine
The Charlotte Department of Transportation on Thursday began treating roads, bridges and culverts, ahead of what’s widely expected to be a dangerous ice storm this weekend, WCNC and others reported.
CDOT plans to transition to 24-hour operations once wintry weather arrives this weekend. The city has 5,000 tons of salt stockpiled, with additional orders on standby. The city has 32 trucks equipped with plows. Crews will prioritize major and minor thoroughfares before moving to residential collectors and neighborhood streets.
CDOT officials said if ice accumulation reaches a quarter-inch or more, the agency will shift from liquid brine treatment to applying solid road salt.
The N.C. Department of Transportation says it will first handle interstates and four-lane highways, then work on primary and secondary roads.
State transportation officials urge people to prepare for the winter storm before the storm arrives, so as to avoid traveling during expected treacherous road conditions.
NCDOT says more than 1,800 employees and contractors have been treating roads, restocking salt supplies and getting ready for the storm in recent days. As of Thursday afternoon, state crews had placed more than 1.8 million gallons of brine to pre-treat roads across the state. —Ashley Fahey
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7:14 a.m. Queen’s Feast organizers encourage patrons to notify restaurants if they’re unable to attend this weekend
Queen’s Feast, the biannual Charlotte Restaurant Week that offers special deals and prix fixe menus at participating area restaurants, starts today and runs through next weekend. But organizers of the event urge those who were planning to participate this weekend to monitor weather conditions and cancel dining reservations if necessary.
A spokesperson for the festival told The Ledger in an email that weather conditions are looking fine for this evening. For Saturday and Sunday, diners should “communicate with the participating restaurants where they already have reservations to cancel those if necessary and hopefully reschedule for another date.” Most reservations can be canceled or modified via the restaurants’ online reservation services or by phone. Participating restaurants also will be working to confirm and/or reschedule reservations as necessary, according to the spokesperson, who also said:
Safety should be everyone’s priority during this weather event. Beyond that, the most important courtesy to the restaurants that we ask of consumers is to please, don’t just no-show for a reservation.
The event officially runs through Feb. 1. Some restaurants may choose to extend their Queen’s Feast offers to recoup reservations lost to the winter storm and give diners additional chances to enjoy the promotion, according to the spokesperson, but those decisions and details will be at the discretion of the individual restaurants. Information will be shared on the Queen’s Feast website, on social media and through the event’s opt-in database:
Website: CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com
Facebook: @CharlotteRestaurantWeek
Instagram: @QueensFeast
Opt-in database: E-news sign-up
➡️ The Charlotte Observer is rounding up other businesses, including restaurants, that have announced closures or adjusted hours for this weekend because of the storm. —Ashley Fahey
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6:35 a.m. Overnight National Weather Service outlook calls for ‘significant ice accumulation’ in Charlotte and ‘widespread and long-lasting power outages’
So this is not looking good. The National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office put out a new “winter weather briefing” this morning at 3:55 a.m.
It shows increased confidence that the Charlotte area will get significant ice from this storm, which it says will arrive sometime around 3 p.m. Saturday and last until 3 a.m. Monday.
One of its slides ominously shows Mecklenburg County receiving 0.5 to 0.75 inches of ice:
It says “expected impacts” include:
Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs, causing widespread and long-lasting power outages.
Impassable and treacherous ice and snow covered roadways lasting into the beginning of next week.
If you’re looking for bright spots, no forecast is 100% certain. And the ice is predicted to be worse west of Charlotte, like in Spartanburg and Brevard and along the N.C.-S.C. line.
Here are a few other charts from the National Weather Service:
➡️ You can read the full briefing here.
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THURSDAY, JAN. 22
9:16 p.m. Hornets game time moved because of storm
The NBA announced tonight that Saturday’s Charlotte Hornets game at the Spectrum Center uptown will tip off at noon, instead of at 6 p.m. as originally scheduled.
The latest forecasts expect sleet and ice to arrive in Charlotte in the late afternoon or early evening on Saturday.
It seems like a safe bet at this point that if you have plans for Saturday, you should reconfirm that they are still a go. I’m no Nostradamus, but I’m predicting a lot more cancellations of Saturday night and Sunday events to come.—Tony Mecia
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9:03 p.m. Donut confuse sleet and freezing rain
In true Brad Panovich fashion, the Charlotte meteorologist is using baked goods to explain the differences between sleet and freezing rain, which sound like the two main possibilities from this storm. He posted this one to social media on Thursday:
I still think about his cupcake example when trying to recall the difference between storm watches and warnings:
As of Thursday night, Charlotte is under a winter storm watch. It’s expected to turn into a winter storm warning. —Ashley Fahey
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7:27 p.m. Charlotte Water offers tips to prevent frozen pipes at your house
Charlotte Water put out some tips on Thursday for how to prevent plumbing from freezing temperatures:
Outside
1. Is your meter box cover on properly? Check the meter cover near the road.
2. Are outside spigots / hose bibs covered? Pick up insulation covers at home improvement stores.
Crawlspace / basement / garage
3. Are any pipes exposed to cold outside air? Cover pipes with insulation and cover sources of cold air.
Inside
4. Are your sink cabinets open overnight? Make sure warm air circulates inside sink cabinets at night.
5. Do you know where your master water shut-off valve is? Make sure everyone knows where it is and how to turn the water off.
If you need an emergency water shut-off, call 311. For frozen pipes and plumbing repairs on your property, you’ll need to call a plumber. They might not be able to get there quickly, though. —Tony Mecia
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6:01 p.m. No Gold Line streetcar this weekend, CATS says
If you were planning to take the Gold Line streetcar this weekend, you’re out of luck.
The Charlotte Area Transit System says it’s suspending streetcar service Saturday and Sunday because “predicted road conditions would not allow for safe travel along the streetcar.”
It’s not replacing the service with a bus. Customers should use the CATS-Pass app to find the closest available bus route and should also “consider delaying travel until the winter storm has passed,” CATS said in a press release. —Tony Mecia
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5:50 p.m. How to protect your pets
It goes without saying: Bring your pets indoors this weekend. Regardless of what falls from the sky, it’s going to be freezing.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control shared some tips on social media this week:
Create a warm, dry space, especially if you can’t bring your pet indoors.
Make sure your pet’s water bowl hasn’t frozen over.
Dress up your short-haired pets with a coat or sweater.
After taking pets outside to use the restroom, check their paws for ice build-up or irritation from salt on the ground. Wipe them down.
Watch for anti-freeze — it’s extremely toxic to pets.
Something your pet might appreciate: A second helping of dinner. Extra calories will help them retain body heat. —Lindsey Banks
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4:49 p.m. Grocery stores deal with rush ahead of storm
It was difficult to find a parking space close to the Harris Teeter in Cotswold midday Thursday, as shoppers flocked the store to stock up on essentials ahead of an anticipated winter storm this weekend.
Shelves containing the usual suspects for storm provisions — bread and bottled water — were largely bare, except for an abundance of Nature’s Own Butterbread loaves. The store’s milk section was only about half empty.
Grocery carts by and large were full of cases of bottled water, canned goods, pet food and loaves of bread. One shopper had three loaves of bread in his cart. Snacks, especially chips, were popular in carts.
A shopper who spoke to The Ledger had a grocery cart containing two cases of bottled water, frozen meals, and chips and French onion dip. She said she’s from Buffalo, N.Y., so winter storms aren’t exactly unfamiliar to her, but she admitted the prospect of ice is scarier than snow.
The shopper, who also had a snoozing baby in a carrier, said it was especially important to stock up on water for infant formula.
One shopper was adding hot dog buns to her cart and said she was trying to get her shopping done ahead of the storm. Another person in the frozen foods aisle who was pushing a full cart said she wasn’t buying anything different ahead of the storm.
“This is just my usual Thursday shopping,” she said with a laugh.
Notably, Harris Teeter’s alcohol aisle was quiet — and well-stocked.—Ashley Fahey
➡️ Pro tip: Get to the grocery store early if you want the best selection
Summon or channel that dad energy and go when it opens, or at least before 7 or 8. Stores typically restock overnight, so the selection tends to be the best first thing. I was at the store at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, had the store almost to myself and chose from a nearly full bonanza of bread, milk, water and more. (But you might have to do self-check out.) —Tony Mecia
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3:55 p.m. Tell us what you’re seeing and what you’d like to know
What are you seeing out there as people get ready for the storm? What do you want to know? What can our crackerjack reporters try to find out?
We’d like to hear from you! Drop a note in the comments (paying Ledger members only), or shoot us an email at editor@cltledger.com. Or send us photos of what you’re seeing.
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3:12 p.m. Duke Energy: How to prepare for Winter Storm Fern
Charlotte-based Duke Energy, the dominant utility in the metro area, issued information on Thursday, ahead of Winter Storm Fern’s expected arrival in the region this weekend.
Fern could bring snow, sleet or freezing rain — although sleet and freezing rain seem likeliest for Charlotte, according to the latest weather reports — as soon as Saturday afternoon. Heavy ice accumulation increases the potential for extended outages.
According to Duke, a quarter inch of ice can bring down trees and branches onto power lines, while a half inch or more can weigh down lines themselves.
Crews are trimming trees and vegetation ahead of the storm to reduce outage risks. More than 18,000 workers will be available to respond as soon as conditions are safe, according to Duke, including lineworkers based in the Carolinas, third-party vegetation and power line crews, and lineworkers from Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
Duke Energy has about 4.7 million customers in the Carolinas.
Here’s what Duke recommends customers do to prepare for the storm:
Charge phones and gather flashlights and extra batteries.
Confirm Duke Energy account login info.
Sign up for outage alerts and know how to report an outage. You can sign up online or via mobile app by texting OUT to 57801 or calling 800-POWERON (800-769-3766).
Duke urges people to stay away from downed power lines and storm debris. Crews will begin assessing damage and restoring power as soon as it’s safe, according to Duke, but added restoration may be delayed if there are blocked roads, hidden damage or hazardous travel conditions. —Ashley Fahey
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2:31 p.m. Local food pantry adjusts deliveries, sees pantry surge
Nourish Up, the Charlotte area’s largest food pantry, is already seeing signs that people aren’t waiting around to prepare for the storm this weekend
At its on-site pantry Wednesday afternoon, 17 families came through to shop – a notable number, said Courtney Oates, marketing and events director for Nourish Up. Typically, they would see maybe 14 or 15 families in a day. But the biggest difference, Oates said: fewer no-shows for appointments. (Anyone is welcome to shop in the free pantry, but people have to make appointments.)
The pantry coordinator also confirmed that neighbors are stocking up on canned goods — items that don’t always need power to cook.
The nonprofit’s Meals on Wheels program is adjusting, too. Monday deliveries have been canceled because of the weather, Oates said, but drivers will deliver extra food tomorrow to make sure recipients are covered through Monday. And, as they do every year, Nourish Up has delivered “inclement weather packs” to Meals on Wheels recipients that include shelf-stable items that don’t require refrigeration, like tuna pouches, fruit cups and pre-cooked pasta.
Nourish Up says it needs more volunteer drivers tomorrow for Meals on Wheels. Details on how to sign up can be found on its website. —Lindsey Banks
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1:35 p.m.: Propane heaters a hot item at Home Depot
The Ledger checked out the scene at The Home Depot on Wendover Road on Wednesday afternoon. People were buying propane heaters. A lot of them.
Here’s a video:
—Tony Mecia
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1:29 p.m. Latest forecast: This looks like an ice storm
Longtime Charlotte-area weather writer Steve Lyttle has examined the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service, and if you had visions of snowmen and snowball fights, this might not be the weekend.
Instead, it’s looking more likely that the Charlotte region will be hit with ice, which is a problem because ice accumulations lead to power outages (in addition to slick roads).
In a post on his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page, which we emailed out Thursday afternoon, Steve writes:
Here is what we know:
1. Precipitation is likely to arrive in the Charlotte area around mid-afternoon Saturday, although it could be as late as 6 p.m.
2. The precipitation will continue Saturday night, Sunday and part of Sunday night.
3. The storm will be followed by very cold air, with single-digit low temperatures likely Monday night.
4. The precipitation will not be snow! There could be a bit of snow at the beginning, but this will be a storm of sleet and freezing rain.
You can read the full post on the “Weather With Steve” Facebook page or in The Charlotte Ledger email newsletter here. —Tony Mecia
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1:03 p.m. Warming shelters open; volunteers count homeless population ahead of storm
Several local shelters will be open this weekend with extended hours for those seeking a warm place to stay during the cold weather. Here are a few that The Ledger found:
Roof Above on Statesville Avenue, open to men only
The Salvation Army on Spratt Street, open for women and children
BlockLoveCLT on North Graham Street has a day service center available
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses are offering free rides to warming shelters. Just tell the driver where you’re going.
The Point-in-Time Count coincidentally happened Thursday morning, which is an annual count of people experiencing homelessness on the streets, WSOC reported. Last year, more than 2,100 people were homeless in Mecklenburg County, with about 450 unsheltered. —Lindsey Banks
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12:14 p.m. Airport says to expect delays and cancellations
Whether we see snow, freezing rain or a mix of both this weekend, Charlotte Douglas International Airport says it’s closely monitoring conditions and prepping for potential impacts to flight schedules.
Airport officials said in a press release Thursday morning that CLT will remain open and operational throughout the weekend, regardless of weather-related conditions. However, travelers should be prepared for possible disruptions — including flight delays and cancellations. Before heading to the airport, check directly with your airline for your flight’s latest status.
Behind the scenes, airport staff are preparing snow teams and a dedicated fleet of more than 40 snow removal, de-icing and maintenance vehicles and equipment, the press release said. All parking lots and decks will remain open and will be treated with de-icing materials.
The Ledger will be keeping an eye on flight delays and cancellations via FlightAware.com, so check back here periodically for the latest air travel updates arriving and departing in Charlotte. As of 12 p.m., there have been no changes to flight activity. —Lindsey Banks
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11:05 a.m. CMS cancellations likely
While no official call has been made yet, it’s not crazy to assume school might be canceled on Monday if the anticipated ice and snow don’t melt in time.
But Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools officials have a few options: cancel school, shift to remote learning, delay the start of class or dismiss early, WFAE reported earlier this week. CMS bases its decision on the timing and severity of the forecast, and factors like temperature, visibility and street safety on both neighborhood roads and main thoroughfares.
Even if only part of Mecklenburg County is impacted, the superintendent could still opt for a district-wide cancellation, CMS Assistant Communications Officer Tom Miner told WFAE, since many students and staff commute across the county.
Families can find updates on the CMS website, through the district’s social media channels and via ParentSquare notifications.
We’ll keep you updated once we know more, so check back regularly for updates. —Lindsey Banks
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With nothing but freezing rain & ice forecast, it looks like this will be a good weekend to stay indoors and gather my income tax documents. Darn it! :-(
How about an update on road conditions in the morning. I’ll be driving up from Columbia to the Queens University area.