The National Weather Service predicts the Charlotte region could get snow this week, but it will not be a repeat of the storm on Saturday.
Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez
mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
The National Weather Service has dared to suggest Charlotte might get more snow this week, but it will pale by comparison to the record-setting storm this past Saturday.
A mix of rain and snow could happen around 3 a.m. Thursday – a 30% chance – when temperatures are in the twenties, according to the latest forecast.
The odds of a rain/snow mix are “low end,” forecasters say, and no accumulation is expected.
Charlotte got between 6 and 12 inches this past Saturday, and high-end snow accumulations of 16 inches were reported in the northern metro area. Daytime highs in the thirties and forties are expected to melt a lot of the snow, officials say.
By Saturday, the Charlotte region could see a high near 50 degrees, but lows at night will continue to be below freezing, the National Weather Service says.
Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. 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.
Charlotte residents should gather food and supplies now and stay off roads beginning Saturday afternoon, when emergency response officials say the city will face one of the most impactful winter storms in years.
At a news conference Friday, officials stressed a long few days of widespread power outages and treacherous roads could lie ahead. Charlotte is expected to be one of the hardest hit big cities in the U.S. by the incoming winter storm, The Washington Post reported. Residents should create emergency plans now, officials said.
“This is not a snow storm. This is not a storm where we wanna go out and play, have our kids outside. We need people to stay off the roads or anywhere near the roads,” said Robert Wike Graham, deputy director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management and division chief at Charlotte Fire.
Graham anticipates an increase in fires, rescues and emergency service responses. Staying at home when weather deteriorates will allow essential personnel to travel more safely to work.
Forecasters predict between a quarter of an inch and three-quarters of an inch of ice could coat Charlotte-area surfaces between Saturday and Monday morning. Snow could also be in the mix.
The two days of wintry precipitation could topple tree limbs and power lines, causing power outages and blocked roads across the county, officials said.
What residents can do to prepare for Charlotte winter storm
The storm will usher in below-freezing temperatures, which Graham said will cause pipes to burst. Residents should make sure they have enough water for several days.
Residents can prepare by building a kit full of emergency supplies, including flashlights, batteries, medical supplies, fully-charged cell phones and battery-operated radios, Graham said.
“Usually I tell people have two or three ways of getting news,” Graham said. “We encourage everybody to have emergency radio. The internet might be down.”
Residents should test their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors now and ensure they know how to operate backup generators if they have them. Generators should remain outside and at least 20 feet away from structures, Graham said.
Graham recommended nonperishable foods and cautioned residents not to cook indoors with items they don’t typically use. For example, keep charcoal stoves and turkey fryers outdoors.
Stocking up before the first precipitation falls on Saturday afternoon is key, officials said.
“Heed the warnings,” said Bret Balamucki, deputy chief at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. “Don’t become the victim yourself, and don’t create a victim by having emergency response have to come to you because you made a choice to go and do something that wasn’t a necessity.”
How is Charlotte preparing for winter storm?
Emergency personnel from salt truck drivers to firefighters will be increasing staff in response to the anticipated storm.
The Charlotte Department of Transportation began pretreating roads Thursday morning with salt brine and will shift to a 24-hour operation on Saturday, said Stephen Bolt, street superintendent with CDOT. Crews will shift their strategy toward fighting ice when the storm arrives tomorrow afternoon.
The city has “more than enough” salt on hand to respond this weekend, said Alfred Oyoyo, CDOT deputy street superintendent. CDOT crews will prioritize high-volume roads first.
“We will stay on shift until we completely remove the ice from primaries and our colelctor streets and focus on getting into neighborhoods as we can,” Bolt said.
Warming shelters are open across the county. Mecklenburg County expanded shelter capacity during the storm to ensure all who need a bed, have one, said Karen Peletier, director of community support at the county.
The landscape management division will handle roadway cleanup when residents report trees or large objects have fallen onto city property such as roads and sidewalks.
Residents can expect some wait times since there will likely be widespread damage, said Laurie Reid, the city arborist. Crews will clear downed trees from major roads first before clearing neighborhood streets, Reid said. Sidewalks will likely be cleared under normal operations next week.
Do not inspect fallen trees or attempt to cut them.
“It might be your first instinct to go inspect it and see what’s happening, but you don’t know if there’s any utility lines involved, so it’s really important to leave those trees alone and call somebody to deal with it,” Reid said. “It’s really important to allow this cleanup to happen by professionals that are out there.”
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Nick Sullivan is The Observer’s regional accountability reporter for York County and the South Carolina communities that border Charlotte. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina, and he previously covered education for The Arizona Republic and The Colorado Springs Gazette.
As of Friday morning, forecasters were predicting anywhere from a quarter of an inch to just under an inch could form on surfaces between 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday.
National Weather Service map
Estimated ice accumulations continue to edge up as the Charlotte area braces for two days of snow, sleet and freezing rain, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Friday morning, forecasters are predicting anywhere from a quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch of ice could form on surfaces between 7 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday.
Snow is far less likely, with an inch or less expected in the region.
The arrival time of the storm also continues to change, with projections now calling for sleet to start late in the afternoon on Saturday, forecasters say.
Mostly snow is expected north of Interstate 40 and mostly freezing rain is expected to the south.
“This is subject to change as we get closer to the event due to the transition line between snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain,” the National Weather Service says.
“The biggest concern is the ice threat as the current forecast supports a crippling ice storm for a good portion of the area. Ice covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable. Widespread power outages are likely due to the weight of the ice on tree limbs and power lines. The outages could last for days in some areas. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning commute.”
Extended power outages in subfreezing temperatures could result from the storm if power lines are impacted ice, AccuWeather meteorologists report. AccuWeather map
Sleet is expected to arrive in the Charlotte area around 5 p.m. Saturday, with wind gusts of around 23 mph. It will transition to a mix of sleet and freezing rain around 8 p.m. and “sleet could be heavy at times,” forecasters say. The low will be around 20.
On Sunday, there is a 100% chance of freezing rain and sleet that will continue through the night. Temperatures will again fall to around 20 degrees, forecasters say.
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for both Carolinas and Gov. Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency for North Carolina.
“We urge people to get prepared now for what’s shaping up to be a very cold period for our state,” N.C. Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said in a news release.
“Please don’t try to drive once the storm hits unless it is necessary. Please protect yourselves, your families and everyone responding to this storm by being patient and playing it safe.”
Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. 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.
