NC state of emergency declared as Charlotte braces for snow, sleet and ice from storm
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein issued a statewide state of emergency Thursday night as Charlotte and the rest of the state prepared for snow, sleet and ice from an approaching storm.
“This storm will likely bring significant impacts from snow, sleet and freezing rain,” Stein said in a statement. “North Carolinians should pay close attention to their local weather forecast and make sure they are prepared with what they need at home before Friday afternoon.”
Stay home if you can, because ice “will likely create dangerous driving conditions,” Stein said.
In Mecklenburg County, the Lake Norman area could see the most snow at about 1 1/2 inches, NWS forecaster Jake Wimberley told The Charlotte Observer at 6:15 a.m. Thursday.
A half-inch of snow is predicted in southern Mecklenburg County from the wintry weather system, Wimberley said.
The combination of snow and small amounts of ice expected on trees and power lines “could cause some outages,” Wimberley said.
Snow should begin falling in Charlotte around 4 or 5 p.m. Friday, he said.
Anywhere from 1 to 2 inches of snow and sleet could fall along Interstate 85 in Gastonia, Charlotte and Salisbury, according to an NWS snow/sleet forecast map Thursday afternoon.
On I-77, between 1 and 2 inches are predicted in Charlotte and 2 to 3 inches in Statesville, the map showed.
Up to six inches of snow could blanket parts of the mountains, according to the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina.
100% chance of snow, sleet, freezing rain
Just before 7 a.m. Thursday, the NWS issued an updated winter storm watch effective Friday morning through Saturday morning for Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, the mountains, N.C. foothills and Upstate South Carolina.
The NWS upgraded the watch Thursday afternoon to a warning, which indicates potentially life-threatening conditions and impassable roads.
Blame a low pressure weather system from the Gulf Coast that is forecast to bring colder air and the wintry mix to the Carolinas.
“Heavy mixed precipitation possible,” forecasters said in the alert. “Mainly snow is expected across the mountains and along and north of the I-40 corridor in the Piedmont, where total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches with locally higher amounts are possible.”
“A wintry mix is expected across the remainder of the area, with 1 to 2 inches of combined ice and snow possible,“ according to the storm watch bulletin.
Many roads could become “treacherous and impassable,” forecasters said. “The weight of the snow and ice on tree limbs and power lines could produce scattered outages.”
The chance of snow, sleet and freezing rain stands at 100%, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast Thursday afternoon.
And that would mean Charlotte’s first measurable snow in three years.
CMS, other closings
Charlotte homeless shelters are expanding capacity through Sunday, and CATS will provide free transportation to the shelters.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Gaston County, Rock Hill and Fort Mill school systems will switch to a fully remote learning day Friday, while the Union and Lincoln county school systems will be closed.
UNC Charlotte will reduce operations at noon, although the campus will remain open.
All Mecklenburg County court sessions will recess at 12:30 p.m.
Charlotte forecast
Less than a half inch of snow and sleet is expected before nightfall Friday, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast. Snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected to continue until 10 p.m., with all sleet forecast in the overnight.
At 7 a.m. Saturday, the chance of sleet drops to 30%, and mostly sunny skies are predicted the rest of the morning, afternoon and evening and on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, according to the NWS.
Expect frigid temperatures, with highs in the low-40s and lows in the 20s and high teens the rest of this week, the forecast showed.
Airport prepares for storm
Snow teams at Charlotte Douglas International Airport are preparing for the storm with a fleet of nearly 40 snow removal and deicing vehicles and maintenance equipment.
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All parking lots and decks will remain open and will be pre-treated with deicing materials, according to CLT. Planes are also being deiced.
CLT encourages passengers to check with their airline regarding the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
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Reporting downed trees
Call 911 immediately to report a tree blocking a road, the city of Charlotte advised Wednesday.
For non-emergency tree issues, such as a tree that fell outside a road and onto the shoulder, sidewalk or public right-of-way, call 311, or, if calling from outside Mecklenburg County, 704-336-7600. Or use the CLT+ mobile app.
Staff Writer Chase Jordan contributed.
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 7:42 AM with the headline "NC state of emergency declared as Charlotte braces for snow, sleet and ice from storm."