snOMG’26: Live Edition

SnOMG’26 is your home for updates on all the news related to the winter storm. Got a news tip to share such as power outages, road conditions and more? Contact us at [email protected]

Roads are (relatively) clear and the effects of the storm appear to be behind us, so we’re signing off from SnOMG’26 Central Command. Thanks for following along.

Monday, Jan. 26

3:57 p.m. – CMS will have a remote learning day on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

12:14 p.m. – All Cornelius Parks & Rec programs and events are cancelled today.

10:08 a.m. – Update from public works: the town’s plows are currently clearing neighborhood roads.

9:46 a.m. – When my parents joined me here 27 years ago they stood outside of the moving van that carried all of their stuff from Massachusetts to North Carolina. After a lifetime of living in the Midwest and Northeast, my dad exultantly told the mover to put his snow shovel in the dumpster because wasn’t going to need one anymore. Then he proceeded to complain about how he still needed a shovel every winter storm for more than two decades.

Yes, your neighbor is using a dust pan to shovel his driveway. Other unusual tools you’ll see being used this morning: flat head yard shovels, yard edgers and cookie sheets. Basically anything with a flat surface.

—Jon

9:30 a.m. – Looks like we dodged at least one bullet. There are still no outages reported by the three energy utility providers in Cornelius.

ElectriCities

Duke Power

Energy United

9:20 a.m. – Weather forecast is calling for sunny weather with cold temperatures this week. When will schools reopen? We have an unscientific guess …

9:01 a.m. – Main roads have been plowed and brined and travel is possible but not great. Neighborhood roads are extremely slick – even in areas that are receiving sunlight.

6:54 a.m. – Waking up to freezing temperatures and patchy fog. Here’s a live shot of I-77 at West Boulevard – is that water or ice? Probably best not to find out. Here’s the link to the WBTV traffic cameras.

Sunday, Jan. 25

6:55 p.m. – There are currently no power outages reported in Cornelius from Energy United, ElectriCities or Duke Power, according to each company’s online outage map. WCNC’s Brad Panovich recently posted that once we make it to 8 p.m. the risk for losing power “will be just isolated and then gone.”

6:27 p.m. – The fire department responded to a call at approximately 2:40 p.m. today off Mariner Cove Drive, where a boat was engulfed in flames. No one was harmed and no further details were available.

5:29 p.m. – The sun has set and all the kids are heading in after a long day of playing outside. Tag us in your snow pics @cornelius_today and we’ll share some of our favorites!

 

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5:25 p.m. – The town posted a road conditions update on Facebook.

4:38 p.m. – Trash pickup alert. Waste Pros has suspended all collection services for Monday, January 26. Monday afternoon, they will assess the road conditions and provide service updates for Tuesday’s collection.

4:08 p.m. – Reader submission: A local family enjoys a snowy ride through the neighborhood as kids tag along for the fun.

1:12 p.m. – The snow/sleet is coming down again. We’re two hours from NFL games. Here are our top five adults and top five kids movies that take place in the snow. Yes, I believe Frozen II is better than Frozen but that might be because I took my three-year-old son to see Frozen and didn’t know it was a princess flick until ten minutes into the movie. I took the girl to Frozen II—much better overall experience for everyone involved.

Top five (adults)

1. Grumpy Old Men
2. The Shining
3. Alive
4. Fargo
5. Everest

Top five (children)

1. Frozen II
2. Ice Age
3. Happy Feet
4. Frozen
5. Snow Dogs

—Jon

12:22 p.m. – All advisories recommend staying home and off the roads, but plows are out. Main roads are in poor condition but navigable if you have a four-wheel drive. Grocery stores are open with limited hours so call ahead if you need to go out.

11:08 a.m. – CATS has suspended operations due to hazardous winter weather conditions across the Charlotte region, with anticipated resumption of services at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. The Express Bus Service has been suspended for Monday.

11:05 a.m. – Power outage update from the town: no reported issues in Cornelius from customers with Duke, Energy United or ElectriCities.

10:18 a.m. – Sledding report: The wintery mix isn’t accumulating on the grass in most places but the hard pack sleet/snow on less-tracked neighborhood roads is perfect right now for plastic sleds. Snow angels, not so much.

10:05 a.m. – According to assistant town manager Tyler Beardsley the town is brining main roads now. There are no trees down, wrecks, or ems/fire related calls.

9:35 a.m. – School canceled tomorrow for CMS.

7:52 a.m. – At roughly 8 a.m. Energy United shows zero power outages in our area and a report this morning by the Charlotte Ledger said Duke outages in Charlotte have been limited to two neighborhoods.

The weather gurus will remind you that the damage from ice storms typically occurs on the back end of storms when trees and power poles are frozen, and there is more wintery mix forecasted to fall this morning.

7:28 a.m. – Waking up this morning to about 3/8ths of an inch of … I dunno … snow sleet? It feels like snow made by ’90s ski resort snow guns but a little more granular. Unless you have balance issues it wasn’t too slippery when I let the dog out at dawn. All advisories still say to stay off the roads. At least we can all start feeling good about eating our storm snacks. NFL playoffs kick off in seven hours.

—Jon

Saturday, Jan. 24

8:24 p.m. – CATS issued a statement that due to anticipated road and weather conditions tomorrow morning, Blue Line and Bus Service will be delayed starting until 10 a.m. on Sunday.

3:46 p.m. – The National Weather Service updated its ice storm warning this afternoon, extending it until 1 p.m on Monday and forecasting slightly less ice than the previous warning—down from a max of two inches to one inch.

“Damaging icing expected. Total sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations mainly between one half and three quarters of an inch. Locally higher ice amounts possible, especially across the South Carolina foothills.

Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages. Trees and large limbs could fall on structures, posing threat to life and property. Ice covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.

Ice accumulations will rapidly increase late tonight into Sunday morning, possibly tapering off by Sunday evening. Treacherous road conditions and power outages will remain Sunday night and likely linger through at least Monday.

An Ice Storm Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible. Travel is strongly discouraged. Commerce will likely be severely impacted. If you must travel, keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Ice accumulations and winds will likely lead to snapped power lines and falling tree branches that add to the danger. Prepare for possible power outages.”

3:15 p.m. – Not sure how you’d get there if the ice is bad enough to knock out power, but the county is opening up a storm shelter uptown if you lose power.

“Starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 24th, Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management are opening a winter storm shelter at Grady Cole Recreation Center (310 N Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC 28204) in coordination with the Red Cross.

These shelters are for those concerned about power outages. Each shelter has a generator and a warming space.

These are not medical shelters and cannot administer medical care.

Bring essentials: clothes, toiletries, snacks, chargers, and prescriptions. If you are in isolation due to measles exposure or experiencing symptoms, do not go to shelters.

For more safety tips, resources, and shelter information, visit cltgov.me/winter.”

2:00 p.m. – We would recommend calling ahead if you’re heading out after the weather arrives, but according to online listings almost every grocery store is open until 10 p.m. tonight except Publix, which closes at 9 p.m.

1:44 p.m. – Latest forecast from WCNC’s Brad Panovich.

10:50 a.m. – We don’t expect to provide many more updates until the weather arrives. The town’s public works department has completed all preparations and it’s the literal calm before the storm. We’ll leave you with the latest forecast from WCNC’s Brad Panovich, who brings up the possibility of “thunder ice” tomorrow.

10:35 a.m. – Latest forecast from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Check out our print issue next weekend for a list of romance-themed February book recommendations from the Cornelius Public Library.

 

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8:10 a.m. – Good morning. We’re on Day 82 of prepping for Winter Storm Fern, named after a plant that thrives in sunny, warm and humid weather.

According to the forecast earlier this week, we were supposed to be waking up to a snowy winter wonderland. The cheap snow pants I bought for my daughter are sitting in the same box that Amazon delivered on Wednesday, and we’re looking at rain or ice or sleet or something at some point in the near future.

I mentioned this in an earlier post—Charlotte is the largest city in the country without its own radar system, which is why all of the storm warnings come out of Greenville, S.C. Yes, a city that requires a state qualifier has a radar and we don’t.

Check out this quote and the link below to an interview that meteorologist Brad Panovich gave to WFAE a couple years ago on the subject.

“It really is an important tool for severe weather warning and it’s just not tornadoes. It’s straight-line winds, it’s also winter weather and also rainfall estimates.”

Story link here.

—Jon

Friday, Jan. 23

7:10 p.m. – All towns encompassing Mecklenburg County have jointly declared a state of emergency tonight in preparation for the storm, effective at 12 p.m. on Saturday. It will remain in effect until the declaration is lifted by local leaders.

“This declaration helps our city, towns and county protect lives and property as we brace for the impacts of the winter storm,” stated in a joint statement by the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville and Charlotte.

The declaration is less about the severity of a storm and more about the ability of a municipality to speed up response time, spending, coordination, and public safety actions before conditions deteriorate.

6:12 p.m. – Here’s some extremely unscientific data for you because it’s been a long week and we’re tired of reporting on grocery store inventory. North Carolina doesn’t have a great track record with storms that have names that sound like grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. Hugo, Floyd, Florence, Diana, Fran, Bonnie … Helene. Here’s hoping Winter Storm Fern doesn’t live up to the trend.

On an unrelated note, good luck finding ice melt or flashlights. We spent three days reporting and failed to do any preparation. Michaels still has plenty of candles, and if you’re willing to deal with holiday scents in the event of a power outage their Christmas candles are 70% off.

—Jon

3:49 p.m. – Mecklenburg County has enacted extreme weather protocols that include additional capacity at area homeless shelters, potential warming shelters, County service and office hour changes, and facility closures.

Solid Waste and Recycling: Full-service recycling centers and the William R. Davie recycling center will close to customers Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. and reopen as conditions allow.

Park and Recreation: All recreation and senior centers, parks, nature preserves, and nature centers will close early at 3 p.m. on Saturday and remain closed on Sunday.

Transportation: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses will offer rides to these shelter locations during this period. Riders must simply identify a designated shelter location to the driver.

Homelessness: Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte Coalition will continue to deploy street outreach teams to homeless encampments to encourage anyone living unsheltered to visit a shelter and to provide information on how to access shelter. Individuals declining shelter will be provided winter weather supplies, if needed. Expanded homeless shelter capacity and access is available during this period of extreme weather. Mecklenburg County and the shelters will closely monitor shelter utilization.

Any additional Mecklenburg County service changes or closures/delays for the week of Jan. 26 will be determined and announced by Sunday, Jan. 25.

3:22 p.m. – Message from Chief Guerry Barbee, Chief of Fire, Cornelius-Lemley Fire and Rescue:

Residents of Cornelius,

As we prepare for an approaching winter storm forecasted to impact Cornelius, I want to remind our residents to remain weather aware and take steps now to stay safe. This system may bring hazardous travel conditions, icy roadways, and the potential for power outages due to winter precipitation.

Please consider the following safety reminders:

• Limit travel if possible. Roads, bridges, and overpasses may become slick and dangerous with little warning. If you must drive, slow down, increase following distance, and allow extra time.
• Prepare for possible power outages. Charge electronic devices, have flashlights and batteries available, and ensure you have adequate food, water, and medications on hand.
• Use heating sources safely. If using generators or alternative heat sources, operate them outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
• Check on neighbors and loved ones, especially seniors or those with medical needs, to ensure they are prepared and safe.
• Stay informed. Monitor trusted weather sources and local emergency notifications as conditions may change quickly.

Our fire department is prepared and will continue to monitor conditions closely. Your preparedness and caution help keep our community safe and allow emergency responders to operate effectively.

Please stay safe and take this storm seriously.

2:18 p.m. – Storm prep doesn’t have to be all serious work. Town staffs in Cornelius and Huntersville took a break from a stressful few days to have a little fun.

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2:16 p.m. – Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to families this afternoon informing them that all school activities scheduled for Saturday and Sunday are canceled.

“Due to the winter weather warnings and the potential for snow, sleet, and freezing rain this weekend, all field trips, athletic events, and Community Use of Schools activities scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25, are canceled. We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and will keep families informed of any district or school schedule changes through the CMS website, on social media, and through ParentSquare (email, text, and phone call), if necessary. The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our top priority.”

1:04 p.m. – Assistant Town Manager Tyler Beardsley provided an update this afternoon on road preparations:

“As of noon today, public works crews have put down approximately 10,000 gallons of brine, so far.  Our crews are also salting the fire and police stations to assist with our first responders getting in and out of their respective stations. Our police, fire, parks, admin, and public works are all working collaboratively and have a plan of action for responding.  The Fire Department has overstaffed for Saturday night and Sunday. Public works and parks maintenance crews are going to be responding to roads and tree issues.  Our electric department has out of town contractors that are staying in town to assist with outages.  For power outages, call the utility company.  DO NOT CALL 911 unless it is a true emergency!”

10:06 a.m. – There are so many weather prep tips out there that you don’t need another one, but here’s one I haven’t seen.

We’ve heated the downstairs of our home with our electric gas fireplace when we’ve had HVAC problems and during power outages.

Gas fireplaces usually have electric switches to power them on, and those obviously don’t work when the power is out. However, many are equipped with a battery-powered ignition that can be accessed wherever your control box is located.

Insert AA batteries and you’ve got a functioning gas fireplaces.

Is your fire not lighting, even with power? Do not try this if your pilot light stays on at all times!

Open the glass and remove the fake logs (I take a picture to know how exactly they go back in) and scrub your ignition pole with a scour pad. It removes build up and should light again, unless you have another mechanical issue that requires a service technician.

—Jon

9:48 a.m. – This morning the National Weather Service updated its guidance to an Ice Storm Warning from 1 p.m. on Saturday until 7 a.m. on Monday.

“Significant icing, with additional impacts from accumulating sleet expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to two inches and ice accumulations between four tenths and three quarters of an inch.

Ice and snow covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable. Widespread power outages are likely due to the weight of the ice and snow on tree limbs and power lines. The outages could last for days in some areas. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.“

8:30 a.m. – I’m a snow day junkie. Years ago, after countless snow predictions that didn’t materialize, I started telling my kids to ignore the forecast and that they’ll know if it snows when they wake up in the morning.

Based on the evolving forecast maybe we should have named these live updates iceOMG? NoSnOMG? My daughter had to remind me that we’ll find out when we wake up on Sunday or Monday.

–Jon

Thursday, Jan. 22

6:17 p.m. – We’re unabashed Brad Panovich fans. It is what it is. Teenagers go fan crazy over pop stars. Middle-aged men have favorite meteorologists and ours is Brad. You’ve probably seen dozens of storm prep videos that offer advice on wrapping pipes and salting walkways. Brad takes it to a more granular level that we just appreciate around here.

Brad’s Five Tips for Getting Storm Ready (via Facebook)

1. Wash all your clothes
2. Do all your dishes
3. Put a cooler outside so you can move your food
4. Pull up your windshield wipers
5. Put a blanket or tarp on your car and/or walkway to make it easier to remove ice
   Bonus Tip: Ice melt is bad for your pets’ paws so put something outside to clean off their paws

3:11 p.m. – Town Manager Andrew Grant sent an announcement to subscribers of the town newsletter to provide an update on storm prep. He said public works, police, fire and utilities (ElectricCities) have begun work including treating roads, inspecting equipment, and ramping up staffing to bolster response times.

Grant added:

“While our teams are working diligently behind the scenes, we also encourage residents to take appropriate precautions such as limiting travel when possible, allowing extra time if you must be on the roads, and checking on neighbors who may need assistance. Please know that the safety and well-being of our community is our top priority. We will continue to provide updates through the Town’s website and social media channels as conditions change. Thank you for your patience, preparedness, and continued support. Together, we will weather this storm safely.”

Grant also asked residents not to call 911 to report issues with utility services so the call center is not overwhelmed and unable to treat real emergencies. Utility service numbers follow:

Duke Energy: (800) 777-9898
ElectriCities: (704) 948-0550
Energy United: (800) 522-3793
CLT Water: (704) 336-2211
Piedmont Natural Gas: 1-(800) 752-7504
Dominion Energy: (866) 366-4357

1:34 p.m. – Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) issued an alert that it is monitoring the weather and customers should expect possible delays this weekend due to changing conditions.

For the most updated information, download the CATS-Pass app and visit the Winter Weather Updates & Detours section.

12:30 p.m. – Cornelius Public Works has begun pretreating surface roads with brine a day or two earlier than originally planned because of the change in the forecast. The two tankers will be working throughout the coming days.

From Assistant Town Manager Tyler Beardsley:

“The forecast is calling for more ice which is much harder to treat and clear. Our current plan is to continue to put brine and salt down to help melt the ice during and after the storm.  We have the ability to plow, but based on the forecast, plows will ineffective.  We are also preparing to clear trees from roadways.  The Public Works staff is preparing for as many situations as possible.”

11:42 a.m. – Grocery stores are still well-stocked with the exception of a few items at specific stores. The meat counter at Fresh Market is getting light on red meat. The water aisle at the Peninulsa Harris Teeter is looking thin. Eggs at Publix are about three quarters gone. At Aldi, which has less stockers than most stores, the bread aisle is nearly empty.

On the east side, Food Lion was busy but all items were in stock. The Antiquity Harris Teeter was by far the busiest store in town but everything except the water aisle had relatively normal inventory.

I’m always fascinated by what people buy during a pre-storm shopping blitz. Based on inventories a lot of you are eating salad and pasta this weekend, and good luck finding pizza dough.

Also if there’s a food shortage it’s probably my fault. I think I’ve spent a month’s worth of grocery money visiting stores over the last 24 hours.

—Jon

9:46 a.m. – There has been lots of talk over the last couple of days how this storm might compare to the ice storm of 2002, which crippled the Charlotte area for weeks. WCNC’s Brad Panovich explains why this storm isn’t comparable to 2002.

6:00 a.m. – Here are some tips from the Red Cross that we shared last winter on how to prep for a storm. Our favorite: “If you feel too warm, remove layers to avoid sweating; if you feel chilled, add layers.” Noted, and appreciated.

Wednesday, Jan. 21 

7:30 p.m. – Does anyone remember the ice storm from 20 years ago? It was a doozy.

4:43 p.m. – New to the Lake Norman area and haven’t settled on a favorite meteorologist? WCNC’s Brad Panovich is the voice of reason and your best weather guide over the next 72 hours.

3:34 p.m. – Full-blown panic buying isn’t official underway at area grocery stores this afternoon but is expected to increase tonight and tomorrow. Fans of Tito’s will find the shelves fully stocked at the ABC store.

1:03 p.m. – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm advisory for parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia from Saturday through Monday afternoon.

7:31 a.m. – Town officials updated elected officials at Tuesday night’s board meeting on prepping roads ahead of the weekend.