Sleet and rain move into Charlotte area; heaviest batches near region, NWS says
Light sleet, mixed with rain, moved into the Charlotte area Saturday afternoon, but the heaviest of the bad stuff wasn’t expected for several hours, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
Expect worsening conditions with far heavier sleet between 8 p.m. and midnight, meteorologist Trisha Palmer told The Charlotte Observer just before 5 p.m.
Sleet slickened roads in the Lake Norman area beginning around 7 p.m.
“Travel conditions will deteriorate quickly this evening as wintry precipitation spreads east,” the NWS posted at 8 p.m. on social media site X. “Roads and other surfaces may quickly become icy as temperatures fall and light freezing rain/sleet spreads toward I-85 through midnight.”
Charlotte can expect up to a debilitating half-inch of ice from the winter storm forecast to bring freezing rain to Mecklenburg and surrounding counties late Saturday through Sunday, NWS meteorologists said.
That’s lower than the three-quarters of an inch forecast Saturday morning.
Areas to the north and west of Charlotte, including Lake Norman, Lincolnton, Hickory, Kannapolis and Salisbury, still could see three-quarters of an inch of ice, according to an updated NWS ice accumulation map at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
“A major ice storm is still on tap,” NWS forecasters said on Facebook at 7 a.m. Saturday. ”Make sure to finish any preparations today. Precipitation rates ramp up this evening.”
“Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages,” according to an NWS ice warning bulletin. “Trees and large limbs could fall on structures, posing threat to life and property.”
“Ice and snow-covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable,” the NWS said.
Hazardous conditions could affect Monday’s commute, forecasters said.
The Grady Cole Recreation Center, 310 N. Kings Drive in Charlotte, opened as a winter storm shelter at 7 p.m. “for anyone who needs a warm, safe place to go,” according to a Mecklenburg County government statement Saturday afternoon.
“Bring warm clothes, toiletries, medication, blankets, snacks, phone and charger if you can,” officials said.
Cabarrus County planned to open an emergency shelter at 11 p.m. Saturday at Concord Active Living Center, formerly Concord Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE in Concord. The city and county declared a state of emergency Saturday night.
Hundreds of incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Saturday .
By 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at least 459 flights were canceled, most all of them on American Airlines and its affiliated carriers, according to tracking site Flight Aware.
“CLT will remain open and operational, but travelers should expect significant impacts across the network,” airport officials posted on X at 11:30 a.m.
Duke Energy said more than 18,000 workers are ready across the Carolinas to respond to outages from the storm. Workers include “company and contract crews, vegetation teams and support staff from 27 states and Canada,” the company posted on X. “Restoration will begin when conditions are safe.”
Light snow and sleet moved across the Appalachians into the western Carolinas around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the NWS reported.
“Impacts will be relatively low this morning, but cooling temps set the stage for much greater winter impacts later this afternoon and evening,” NWS meteorologists said on X.
A state of emergency began at noon for Mecklenburg County and “will remain until it’s safe to end it,” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office posted on X.
The declaration allows for increased public safety staffing and bans price increases.
Lincoln County declared a state of emergency Saturday night.
Charlotte Area Transit System suspended Gold Line service through Sunday and said a bus bridge is not in place. Blue Line and bus service were delayed Saturday, with service scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The town of Davidson activated its emergency operations center at 6 a.m. Saturday. “Public safety personnel are in place to respond to emergencies throughout the weather event,” according to a town news release.
At 1 p.m., the town of Mooresville closed all public town buildings, including the Charles Mack Citizen Center, Mooresville Public Library east and west branches, Mooresville Skate Park and all recreation centers.
Sunday night’s concert by Swedish rock band Ghost at the Spectrum Center was among scores of events canceled because of the storm.
.jpg "Snow Prep Day 2_1-21-26 (2 of 6).jpg")
White House approves NC emergency declaration
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Saturday said the White House approved his request for a statewide emergency declaration. That will enable the state to get more generators to hospitals and shelters, access emergency fuel for state vehicles responding to storm incidents, and get U.S. Forest Service help clearing roads in state forests, Stein said at a news conference.
“We are grateful for their partnership and quick response,” Stein said on X.
President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for both North Carolina and South Carolina, directing FEMA to make federal disaster assistance available to the states.
Once the storm hits, stay home and off the roads, “unless absolutely necessary,” Stein urged.
“Be prepared for potential power outages, and make sure you have a plan to stay warm and in contact with loved ones,” the governor said.
.jpg "Snow Prep_1-20-26 (3 of 17).jpg")
Charlotte forecast: Single-digit lows
Charlotte has a 100% chance of freezing rain and sleet late Saturday and early Sunday, and a 100% chance of freezing rain mixed with sleet on Sunday, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast.
“The sleet could be heavy at times” late Saturday and early Sunday, according to the forecast.
All freezing rain is forecast after noon Sunday, “with new ice accumulation of 0.2 to 0.4 of an inch possible,” the forecast showed. “New sleet accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.”
The NWS forecast highs of 34 on Saturday and 31 on Sunday, and lows of 21 late Saturday and early Sunday and 28 late Sunday and early Monday.
Monday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 38, although the low could plummet to 8 degrees late Monday and early Tuesday, 17 degrees late Tuesday and early Wednesday, 18 late Wednesday and early Thursday and 12 degrees late Thursday and early Friday, according to the NWS.
“The cold lingering into next Monday will impact folks’ ability to travel,” Stein said at Saturday’s news conference.
Drivers should check DriveNC.gov for the latest road conditions in their areas, he said.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 10:34 AM.