CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After Charlotte received its first snow of 2018, Mother Nature gave the Queen City another headache Thursday in the form of ice.
With some areas receiving a daily record of over three inches in Charlotte, a layer of black ice formed on many secondary roads and neighborhood streets, making for dangerous conditions across the area.
"Roads are going to continue to be icy in the morning. Some of it even refreezing again Saturday morning. Unfortunately, while daytime temps will rise, morning will stay cold and subfreezing until next week," said meteorologist Sarah Fortner.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police reported 156 traffic incidents from midnight to 9 p.m. Thursday. That included traffic accidents, road blockages, and disabled vehicles.
While the major interstates were in good shape Thursday, one popular Charlotte thoroughfare was shut down due to ice. The ramp from inbound Independence Boulevard to the inner loop of I-277 was shut down by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Wednesday night. NCDOT said they were working in coordination with CMPD to reopen the ramp as temperatures rise later in the day.
Snow totals varied across the viewing area, with parts of northern Cabarrus, Iredell and Rowan counties seeing up to seven inches of snowfall Wednesday. Mint Hill recorded three inches of snowfall, while the rest of Mecklenburg County saw anywhere from 2-5 inches from the storm. In South Carolina, most parts of York County picked up 1-2 inches of snow.
The “big-time storm system” reached all the way from New England down into Georgia, especially affecting the Carolinas.
Even though the snow is long gone, most school districts remained closed Thursday due to the dangerous ice. Several also closed on Friday including Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. CMS have announced two make-up days so far, with the first coming Monday, January 22.
For those who don't like the cold, there is some good news, as the cold will stick around through Friday morning with a warm-up starting this weekend. High temperatures Sunday could reach 60 or better.
