Light sleet mixed with rain moved into the Charlotte area Saturday afternoon, but the worst of the worst wasn’t expected for several hours, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
Expect worsening conditions with much heavier sleet between 8 p.m. and midnight, meteorologist Trisha Palmer told The Charlotte Observer just before 5 p.m.
Sleet roads in the Lake Norman area starting around 7:00 p.m
“Travel conditions will deteriorate rapidly 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 drop and light freezing rain/sleet spreads toward I-85 by midnight.”
A wintry mix continued in the mountains and foothills of northern NC as of 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, and was gradually moving east toward the Charlotte area by midnight, NWS forecasters said.
Charlotte can expect a half-inch of debilitating ice from the winter storm forecast to bring freezing rain to Mecklenburg and surrounding counties late Saturday into Sunday, NWS forecasters said.
That’s less than three-quarters of an inch forecast Saturday morning.
Areas north and west of Charlotte, including Lake Norman, Lincolnton, Hickory, Kannapolis and Salisbury, could see another three-quarters of an inch of ice, according to an updated NWS ice accumulation map as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
“A major ice storm is still within reach,” NWS forecasters said on Facebook at 7 a.m. Saturday. “Make sure you finish all your preparations today. Rainfall rates are increasing tonight.”
“Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree edges can cause widespread and long-lasting power outages,” according to an NWS ice warning bulletin. “Trees and large limbs could fall on structures, endangering life and property.”
“Roads covered in ice and snow 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 and safe place to go,” according to a Mecklenburg County government statement Saturday afternoon.
“Bring warm clothes, toiletries, medicine, blankets, snacks, phone and charger if you can,” officials said.
Cabarrus County planned to open an emergency shelter at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Concord Active Living Center, formerly the Concord Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE in Concord. The city and county declared a state of emergency Saturday night.
Hundreds of inbound and outbound flights were canceled Saturday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, at least 459 flights had been canceled, mostly on American Airlines and affiliated carriers, according to tracking website Flight Aware.
“CLT will remain open and operational, but travelers should expect significant impacts across the entire network,” airport officials posted on X at 11:30 a.m.
Duke Energy said more than 18,000 workers are on standby in the Carolinas to respond to outages from the storm. Workers include “company and contract crews, vegetation crews and support personnel 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 light this morning, but cooler temperatures have set the stage for much higher winter impacts later this afternoon and evening,” NWS forecasters said on X.
A state of emergency began at noon for Mecklenburg County and “will remain in place until it is safe to end,” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Office of Emergency Management posted on X.
The statement allows for increases in public safety personnel and prohibits price increases.
Lincoln County declared a state of emergency Saturday night.
The Charlotte Area Transit System has 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 city of Davidson activated its emergency operations center at 6 a.m. Saturday. “Public safety personnel are available to respond to emergencies throughout the weather event,” according to a city news release.
At 1 p.m., the City of Mooresville closed all city public buildings, including the Charles Mack Civic Center, the east and west branches of the Mooresville Public Library, the Mooresville Skate Park and all recreation centers.
Sunday night’s concert by Swedish rock band Ghost at the Spectrum Center was among dozens of events canceled due to the storm.
Snow crews at Charlotte Douglas International Airport are preparing for Winter Storm Fern.
White House approves NC emergency declaration
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said Saturday that the White House had approved his request for a statewide emergency declaration. That will allow the state to bring more generators to hospitals and shelters, access emergency fuel for state vehicles responding to storm incidents and get help from the U.S. Forest Service to clear roads in state forests, Stein said at a news conference.
“We are grateful for their partnership and quick response,” Stein told X.
President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for both North and South Carolina, requiring 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 connected to loved ones,” the governor said.
Workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport prepare equipment ahead of Winter Storm Fern.
Charlotte Forecast: Single digit lows
Charlotte has a 100 percent chance of freezing rain and sleet late Saturday and early Sunday and a 100 percent chance of freezing rain mixed with sleet Sunday, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast.
A deicing truck makes its way through the Lockwood neighborhood Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in preparation for winter weather, including ice, expected in the Charlotte area this weekend.
“Sleet could be heavy at times” late Saturday and early Sunday, according to the forecast.
All of the freezing rain is forecast after noon Sunday, “with 0.2 to 0.4 inches of new ice accumulation possible,” the forecast said. “An additional sleet accumulation of less than half an inch is possible.”
The NWS is forecasting highs of 34 Saturday and 31 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, though lows could drop to 8 degrees late Monday and early Tuesday, 17 degrees late Tuesday and early Wednesday, 18 degrees late Wednesday and early Thursday and 12 degrees late Thursday and early Friday, according to the NWS.
“The frost that persists into next Monday will affect people’s 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.