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Rain, snow, sleet and even lightning and thunder hit parts of the Charlotte region on Saturday.
But while conditions began to clear in the evening, there were concerns about patches of black ice on roads across the entire region as temperatures fell into the upper 20s overnight.
A different weather outlook is in the cards for Sunday, with the forecast calling for clear and dry conditions and a high in the upper 40s.
Rain could return Tuesday, with some snow possible early Wednesday, said meteorologist Doug Outlaw with the National Weather Service.
Still, we may not be in for a repeat of what we saw Saturday.
The rain and wintry mix began in the morning as an area of moderate snow developed across the region. The precipitation tapered off by lunchtime before returning in the afternoon.
Residents from across the region saw a mix of rain, sleet, snow and sleet pellets during the afternoon. A lightening strike and thundersnow were reported in northern Gaston County about 3:45 p.m.
The snow and sleet did coat grassy surfaces, but no measurable accumulations were expected because ground temperatures stayed in the 40s.
Crews at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were de-icing planes early in the evening. The process took an average of six to seven minutes per aircraft, airport spokeswoman Lee Davis said. At 9:30 p.m., the airport’s website showed four evening flights had been delayed.
But earlier, many more flights were delayed or canceled. US Airways spokesman Bill McGlashen said the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop for about two hours. The airport’s website showed 36 departing flights were canceled early Saturday. McGlashen said the airline “worked through the day to get our customers where they need to be.”
