Weather News

‘Slick and hazardous roads’ await anyone driving in Charlotte area, forecasters say

Holly Strack walks her dogs, Tyson and Benson past a heart created in the snow dusted street in the Village of Lake Park in Union County on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Holly Strack walks her dogs, Tyson and Benson past a heart created in the snow dusted street in the Village of Lake Park in Union County on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Lingering ice and snow in the Charlotte region made for a dangerous Wednesday commute, and below-freezing temperatures are predicted to stick around for days, forecasters said.

Wind chills in some parts of the region hit minus-8, according to the National Weather Service.

Charlotte faces more rounds of frigid temps, with predicted lows of 17 degrees early Thursday, 22 early Friday, 21 early Saturday and 25 early Sunday, according to the Charlotte NWS forecast at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday’s high reached only 32 degrees — the freezing mark.

The NWS predicts a high of only 37 on Thursday, 42 on Friday and 45 Saturday, before highs are expected to climb to 50 on Sunday and Monday, 55 on Tuesday and 59 on Wednesday.

The storm left up to 6/10ths of an inch of snow in the Charlotte area, NWS meteorologist Rodney Hinson said, and 3/10ths of an inch at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The storm delayed hundreds of flights at the airport Wednesday morning, according to Flight Aware.com.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and many other surrounding districts canceled classes, extracurricular activities and athletics for Wednesday.

Charlotte Solid Waste Services suspended collection on Wednesday, with service to resume on Thursday. Yard waste service was suspended for the rest of the week.

Lows in Charlotte should finally inch up from below freezing early Monday, when a low of 34 is forecast. The NWS expects the low to dip below freezing again early Tuesday, at 31 degrees.

A Cold Weather Advisory remained until noon Wednesday, as temperatures 20 degrees below normal lingered in the region.

Advisories are issued when forecasters expect travel to be difficult. Road conditions deteriorated Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, as “any moisture refroze,” forecasters said.

Snow covers the roof tops of homes and a portion of a pond in the Village of Lake Park in Union County on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Snow covers the roof tops of homes and a portion of a pond in the Village of Lake Park in Union County on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
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This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 5:29 AM.

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Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer
Mark Price is a state reporter for The Charlotte Observer and McClatchy News outlets in North Carolina. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology. 
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