snOMG 2026: Town officials prep for winter storm mix

Jan. 21 – The forecast is changing by the hour, but Cornelius officials are preparing for a wintry weather mix this weekend. Town staff briefly outlined storm preparations at the Tuesday night Town Board meeting.

“The town is doing everything it can to prepare,” Town Manager Andrew Grant said.

How much snow or ice will fall this weekend remains uncertain. Some weather apps were calling for rain Friday and as much as 8 to 12 inches of snow over the weekend. Others are forecasting no rain Friday and 1 to 3 inches of ice over the weekend.

One variable that has not changed: Temperatures early next week are not expected to rise above freezing until Tuesday afternoon, with overnight lows in the teens and 20s.

Assistant Town Manager Tyler Beardsley said plows, brine tanks and salt spreaders are ready, but any rain later this week could limit the ability to brine roads several days in advance. Rain can wash brine from road surfaces.

“We’ll be out there brining as much as we can,” Beardsley said. “If it turns to ice, there’s not a lot we can do in terms of plowing. We’ll do what we can and try to get the roads clear as quickly as possible.”