Weekend snowfall ranks among Charlotte’s biggest ever

Charlotte seemed to slow down for a moment as people grabbed real and makeshift sleds, flocking to whatever hill they could find during Saturday’s snowstorm.

Why it matters: Saturday’s 11 inches of snow marks the fourth heaviest single-day snowfall in Charlotte history. It’s tied with Dec. 29, 1980. The heaviest was 14 inches in 1902, the Observer reported.

The latest: Crews were out on Sunday to plow and salt the roads, but the salt won’t be effective until temperatures rise to around 25 degrees, according to meteorologists. High temperatures are forecast to reach the low 30s on Sunday.

  • Temperatures are expected to drop significantly overnight. Duke Energyhas asked its customers in the Carolinas to reduce their energy use from 4-10am Monday, Feb. 2, to protect the grid. This means turning down your thermostat and avoiding using large appliances during these hours.

Catch up quick: Saturday’s snow created hazardous road conditions throughout the region. In east Charlotte, people pushed cars up Independence Boulevard, trying to get over the hill on the other side of Hawthorne Bridge.

  • More than 100 vehicles were stranded due to a crash on I-85 in Cabarrus County, our news partners at WBTV reported.
  • A train ran into a semi truck that was stuck on the tracks in Gaston County. No one was hurt, per WBTV.
  • American Airlines issued a ground stop Saturday due to the weather. Charlotte Douglas International Airport had 1,090 flights cancelled on Saturday and more than 800 on Sunday, according to FlightAware.
  • The Hornets beat the San Antonio Spurs in Uptown 111-106 for their sixth straight win, and then the Spurs couldn’t fly back to San Antonio because of the weather.

What we’re watching: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has not yet announced whether classes will take place in person on Monday…

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