Charlotte Ice Storm Brings Power Outages And Travel Chaos

Charlotte, North Carolina, found itself at the center of a formidable winter storm this past weekend, as a dangerous ice event swept across the region, leaving a trail of disruption, uncertainty, and icy beauty in its wake. The storm, which began late on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and intensified through Sunday, blanketed the Queen City and much of the Carolinas under a thick, shimmering coat of ice that continued to accumulate throughout the day, according to the Charlotte Observer and QC News.

Forecasters had warned for days that a significant winter storm was on the horizon, prompting residents to rush out and stock up on supplies in anticipation. As Rachel Coulter and Eric Garlick reported for WBTV, "People have been grabbing supplies and getting prepared all week long," underscoring the sense of urgency that swept through the Carolinas ahead of the storm’s arrival.

The National Weather Service left little doubt about the seriousness of the situation, reporting a 100% chance of precipitation for Charlotte on Sunday, January 25, and warning that more than a quarter of an inch of ice could accumulate on surfaces—especially with a burst of precipitation expected in the evening. The high temperature for the day barely reached 30 degrees Fahrenheit, while the windchill hovered around a bone-chilling 16 degrees by late afternoon.

By the evening, the effects of the storm were unmistakable. Freezing rain and freezing drizzle coated roads, trees, and power lines, with meteorologists warning that the worst was yet to come. "Freezing rain today and bitter cold in the coming days will continue to bring dangerous road conditions and power outages," Governor Josh Stein said in a Sunday morning news conference, as reported by the Charlotte Observer. "Be sure to have a plan for if your power goes out, and please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary."

With the ice storm warnings in effect for most of the region until 1 p.m. Monday, January 26, the city braced for a long haul. QC News noted that the first wave of heavy wintry precipitation hit overnight, from midnight through 10 a.m. Sunday, with a second wave expected to bring even heavier sleet and freezing rain later in the afternoon and evening. The precipitation was primarily a mix of sleet and freezing rain, with foothill areas seeing more sleet and areas south and east of Charlotte enduring more freezing rain. Toward the end of the storm, a shift to rain was possible in the sandhills.

The impacts were immediate and far-reaching. Dangerous driving conditions developed quickly, with the North Carolina Department of Transportation announcing late Sunday morning that most roads across Mecklenburg, Anson, Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union counties were "partially or completely covered in ice." Residents were strongly encouraged to avoid travel if possible, and the warnings were not taken lightly. As the National Weather Service put it, "Radar trends upstream indicate that both the coverage and intensity of freezing rain will gradually increase overnight, which may lead to worsening travel conditions."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, along with other area districts, announced closures for Monday, January 26, citing hazardous conditions and a commitment to student safety. The district stated it would "continue monitoring National Weather Service updates and keep families informed of any district or school schedule changes." The closures extended across the region as officials grappled with the storm’s unpredictable path.

The storm’s impact on infrastructure was equally severe. At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, over 1,115 flights were canceled as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday, stranding travelers and disrupting plans across the country. Power outages quickly became a pressing concern, with Duke Energy reporting around 300 homes in the Charlotte area without electricity on Sunday afternoon. The numbers fluctuated throughout the day, but the threat remained constant. Statewide, more than 28,600 homes were without power by 5:30 p.m., including over 11,700 in Henderson County, according to ReadyNC.gov. Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, had 31 homes without power at that time, but officials warned that the situation could change rapidly as ice continued to accumulate.

To provide relief for those most vulnerable to the cold and outages, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management opened a storm shelter on Saturday night at the Grady Cole Recreation Center, in coordination with the Red Cross. The shelter offered a safe haven for residents concerned about losing heat or electricity as the mercury plunged and the ice thickened.

Meteorologist Brad Panovich, speaking on Facebook and cited by the Charlotte Observer, highlighted the unique dangers posed by the storm. He warned that a particularly intense batch of ice and freezing rain was likely between 4 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Drawing comparisons to recent storm damage in Nashville, Tennessee, Panovich cautioned that "that line of ice is heading our way." He added, "It could even be thunder ice, which is crazy to say. I said that earlier, and I was like ‘I can’t believe that’s even coming out of my mouth.’ But that’s what we could see. And that potential thunder ice could drop a quarter to a half an inch of ice in a few hours. So, the power threat going out is not over."

The National Weather Service echoed these concerns, predicting a "crippling" impact on the region. Their forecast called for widespread power outages and extremely difficult—if not impossible—travel conditions to linger through at least the early part of the workweek. "Widespread power outages and extremely difficult to impossible travel conditions are expected to linger through at least the early part of the work week," forecasters reported early Sunday.

For many, the storm’s slow start on Saturday gave way to a relentless onslaught by Sunday, delaying any hope of a quick warmup or return to normalcy. The mixture of sleet and freezing rain, with the possibility of over half an inch of ice in some areas, created a perfect storm for downed tree branches and snapped power lines, further complicating recovery efforts.

President Donald Trump, responding to Governor Josh Stein’s request, approved an emergency declaration for North Carolina on Saturday, January 24. This move unlocked federal resources to aid in storm recovery, including additional generators for hospitals, support for sheltering operations, and emergency fuel, food, and water. The swift federal response underscored the seriousness of the situation and the need for coordinated action across all levels of government.

As the storm finally began to clear out overnight Sunday into early Monday, the Carolinas were left to assess the damage, restore power, and clear roads. But for many, the memory of the ice storm of January 2026 will linger—an icy reminder of nature’s power and the importance of preparation and community resilience in the face of the unexpected.