Good morning! Today is Saturday, January 24, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger’s Weekend Edition.
Need to subscribe — or upgrade your Ledger e-newsletter subscription? Details here.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by CLT Airport parking. Flock to official CLT Airport parking for business. Save time and get a guaranteed spot at the best available rates. Book today with the CLT Airport app. You can’t park any closer.
Charlotte braces for a long, icy weekend
by Tony Mecia
By now, you’ve probably braved the crowds at the grocery store. You’ve probably thought about what the next few days hunkering down at home might look like.
All that’s left is to wait and see if, tonight and Sunday, the ice storm headed our way is really as awful as all the trained weather forecasters are predicting:
“POWER OUTAGES will be widespread, possibly lasting several days,” the National Weather Service said.
“Think of this ice threat as a ‘Winter Hurricane,’” WCNC’s Brad Panovich said on social media. “… THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.”
The experts say the wintry mix should start tonight — mostly sleet and freezing rain. Tomorrow will be a day of freezing rain, turning to ice, and that’s when the power outages are likely to accelerate. The precipitation should end by late Sunday or early Monday, but the mess of fallen tree limbs and slick roads could last for days.
The last time Charlotte was under an Ice Storm Warning was in 2005. This one is drawing comparisons to the infamous ice storm of 2002, which left 1.8 million customers in the Carolinas without electricity and resulted in 24 deaths. A Duke Power executive at the time called it “the worst storm in company history.”
At a media briefing on Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management officials stressed a few key themes:
Buy enough food for a few days.
Stay off the roads.
Check on friends and neighbors.
“Charlotte will be fine. We’ll be fine,” Charlotte Fire Department Division Chief Robert Graham said. “We just have to get through the next couple days.”
—
Follow the storm and its effects on Charlotte with The Ledger’s Charlotte Weather Watch live blog
The Charlotte Ledger has been following the developments with the approaching storm — forecasts, closings, reactions, official guidance, tips — at our Charlotte Weather Watch live blog.
It lives in a single online location, giving you helpful information and insights as the storm approaches and moves through the Charlotte region. It is presented in a pleasant, easy-to-read online format that minimizes clicking around for the info you want and need.
We also want to know what you’re seeing and what questions you have, and we’ll work to get answers. Or if you see something notable, snap a photo and send it to us. Our email is [email protected].
Check back often for the latest on what is happening.
A few of the headlines from yesterday’s Charlotte Weather Watch live blog:
Emergency Management Office: Stay home, make a plan and don’t bring charcoal grills into your homes: Full coverage of Friday’s media briefing, with safety suggestions and videos
More than 200 flights at CLT canceled: The numbers are expected to rise
Charlotte storm TikToks are going viral: We rounded up a few that we found funny — including one of a Bojangles truck spreading Cajun seasoning on the roads to melt the ice (it was AI-generated, in case we need to say that).
So much for Dry January: Mecklenburg ABC Board anticipating ‘uptick’ in liquor sales Friday and Saturday: ABC stores are anticipating stronger sales today, even though January is the slowest month for liquor sales
Ice storm warning issued; most of the freezing rain expected Sunday, with travel ‘nearly impossible’: Friday afternoon forecast from the National Weather Service gave updated info on the storm’s timing and severity
… and many more.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Arts+:
This week in Charlotte: 2 measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg, City reconsiders red light cameras, Former city council members open lobbying firm, How Manor Theatre redevelopment is playing in Eastover
The main headline this past week has been the winter storm coming our way tonight. But that’s not all that happened in Charlotte this week. We’ll help you get caught up on the news you might have missed while you were prepping for heavy ice and no power.
Education
Charlotte cracks top 30 for school quality: (Charlotte Observer, subscriber-only) Charlotte ranked 26th among major U.S. cities for access to high-quality schools in a 2026 study by Melbourne Business School Online, placing it in the top 50 nationwide.
Politics
New lobbying firm: (Ledger) Former Charlotte City Council members Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston are opening the Charlotte office of The Southern Group, a Florida-based lobbying firm, saying the city’s businesses need stronger representation in Raleigh.
Residency questioned in N.C. Senate race: (WRAL) The State Board of Elections is investigating a complaint that Margot Dupre, a Republican running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, may actually live in Florida, not North Carolina, after she listed a UPS store on Kings Drive in Charlotte as her home address on campaign and voter records.
Stein puts pressure on data centers: (WFAE) Gov. Josh Stein joined federal officials and other East Coast governors in urging grid operator PJM to require data centers to pay their fair share for electricity, warning that the artificial intelligence-driven surge in power demand could otherwise raise costs for residential customers.
Local news
Red-light cameras reconsidered: (Ledger🔒) Nearly 20 years after Charlotte scrapped red-light cameras, some city leaders want to revisit them amid a rise in fatal crashes, arguing the technology could improve safety and accountability.
Measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg: (Ledger) Health officials confirmed two measles cases Thursday in Mecklenburg County, one in an adult and one in an unvaccinated child, both linked to exposure outside the county.
Homeless person found dead: (Observer) For a second year in a row, a homeless person was found dead during Mecklenburg County’s annual Point-in-Time Count, after volunteers discovered a body early Thursday near Woodlawn Road and I-77.
Business
Former Legion safety manager alleges unsafe workplace: (Ledger) A former Legion Brewing safety and maintenance manager has filed a lawsuit accusing the brewery of ignoring Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and repeated warnings about hazards, including falling ceiling rods, chemical exposure and canning-line injuries.
Tariffs could hit N.C. farms hard: (Queen City Nerve) Retaliatory tariffs could cost North Carolina farmers about $695M, nearly a third of the state’s average net farm income, according to a new report published by the John Locke Foundation.
Sports
New owner of marathon: (Press Release) The Charlotte Sports Foundation has acquired the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, taking over operations of the city’s longtime running event.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Wednesday (🔒)
Calls grow for return of red-light cameras. Plus: Forecasters warn of risk of major ice storm; Legion safety manager sues brewery; Toppman reviews ‘Spamalot’; Discussion on aging loved ones; Antisemitic materials at Shalom Park
Friday (🔒)
Ice storm preparation tips. Plus: Full storm coverage on Ledger blog; 2 measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg; Eastover’s views on Manor Theatre redevelopment; Former council members join lobbying firm
Ways of Life (🔒)
In memoriam: Hank Sloan, a life full of joy and energy. Also remembered: A teacher at Rama Road and Merry Oaks elementary schools; a longtime piano and organ teacher; a city attorney and jogger; the owner of a toxicology business and a ranked tennis player
‘Spamalot’ rides again: The show runs through Tuesday (Jan. 27) at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.
‘Manor Theatre is tired. It’s time.’ Plus: What’s next for Brookhill Village; Charlotte office market outlook; Apartments, retail for South End site; Eighty Eights owner behind new venue?; North Meck shifts into its next phase
Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 6 of our local newsletters:
The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn