Flights moving again, roads clear after fast snow storm moves through

The first measurable March snowfall in eight years disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived Sunday, with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of snow around the region melting away as soon as the sun came out around noon.

Area schools plan to be open for classes Monday.

The heaviest snow appeared to fall along and just south of the state line, with reports of 3 inches in Pageland and Great Falls, S.C. While the snow total at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport was 1.1 inches, some areas, including Davidson, Mint Hill, Monroe and Kannapolis got about 2 inches.

By 9:30 a..m., the FAA had issued a ground stop at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport while planes were being de-iced. While many flights were delayed or canceled, the ground stop was lifted about 12:30 p.m. and planes were taking off again.

With ground temperatures relatively warm following weeks of mild weather, roads and sidewalks in the Charlotte area were wet but clear Sunday morning while the snow was falling. Most of the snow built up on yards, bushes and cars. Power outages were spotty, with about 2,000 people without power, mostly close to uptown.

Most stations near Charlotte reported temperatures around freezing at daybreak. Highway officials in both Carolinas reported major roads were wet in the Piedmont. Some slippery spots were reported in higher elevations of Cleveland, Burke and Catawba counties. Asheville got 4 to 5 inches of snow.

Most of the snow melted quickly Sunday afternoon as soon as the sun came out. But with freezing temperatures expected again after midnight, anything that remains wet could refreeze, causing possible problems with black ice throughout the region.

More rain is expected Monday afternoon. If it arrives before temperatures warm into the 40s, it could cause some ice, and light freezing rain is possible in some areas, mostly to the west. A spokesman for the National Weather Service said Charlotte can expect “a raw, wet day.”

Monday’s weather system is expected to become part of a heavy snowstorm that may bring blizzard conditions to some areas in the Northeast, where cities are bracing for possible heavy accumulations. Unusually cold weather is expected to persist throughout the week, according to the weather service, which may cause problems for agriculture, which has experienced early blooming because of an unusually warm spring.

This story was originally published March 12, 2017 at 8:34 AM with the headline "Flights moving again, roads clear after fast snow storm moves through."