CMS to close schools Wednesday
Students will shift to remote learning; a light mix of snow, sleet and rain is forecast
Good afternoon! Today is Tuesday, February 18, 2025, and we’re coming to you with HOT BREAKING NEWS.
Need to sign up for our newsletter to stay in-the-know about Charlotte? Or upgrade to our paid version? Details here.
Storm expected to bring a mix of snow, sleet and rain for Charlotte, but not much; Should start by 10 a.m. Wednesday and make roads slippery through Thursday morning
by Tony Mecia
With another winter storm approaching, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said it is canceling classes on Wednesday.
The district said in a statement:
Out of an abundance of caution and due to winter weather conditions in the forecast for Wednesday, February 19, 2025, all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are shifting to remote instruction. There will be no extracurricular activities, facility use, or athletics. All scheduled testing will resume when we return to school. The Before and After School Enrichment Program will also be canceled.
The move comes as Charlotte again prepares for the threat of some combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Keeping more than 140,000 students at home — as well as their parents — will ensure that there are fewer cars on the road tomorrow.
So what’s the latest on the weather?
“Don’t expect a lot of snow — a trace to an inch,” said WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich, in a video posted to social media a little before 4 p.m. He said there could be a “glaze” of ice, which on top of the snow would “be enough to cause some issues.”
National Weather Service odds of snow accumulation of 1 inch or more. It’s about 1% in south Charlotte and 5% north of uptown, with higher percentages moving north.
Experienced weather reporter Steve Lyttle, writing on his Weather with Steve Facebook page, says “there’s just enough uncertainty to create a little drama.” He adds:
◼️ Precipitation totals: Unless something changes, here’s what we’re looking at for precipitation totals:
Charlotte: An inch or less of snow and sleet, along with 0.15 of an inch of ice accumulation, as freezing rain is expected to mix with the snow and sleet by late Wednesday afternoon.
Rock Hill, Monroe: Little or no snow and sleet, along with light ice accumulations.
Gastonia, Shelby, Concord: About 1/2 to 1 inch of snow and sleet, along with light ice accumulations.
Lake Norman area: About 1 inch of snow and sleet.
◼️ Timing: Precipitation is likely to reach Charlotte around 10 a.m.
◼️ Road conditions: It’ll be a close call, but the current forecast calls for temperatures to be near or a bit above freezing for part of the day. In that scenario, roads will remain wet until late afternoon or evening, when ice and snow could begin to make roads slippery.
Black ice is likely Thursday morning, with temperatures dropping well below freezing Wednesday night.
◼️ Bust potential: Big. A few degrees’ difference can make this forecast bust, either way. This usually is the case with winter weather and the Charlotte area. A degree or two warmer, and we'd get mostly rain. A degree or two colder, and we'd get more snow and ice.
The current thinking, though, is that this will be a rather minor event for the Charlotte region, with much bigger impacts in the northern and northeast parts of North Carolina.
◼️ Outlook:
Tonight: Becoming cloudy, with a low near freezing.
Wednesday: Overcast and cold, with snow arriving by mid-morning. Temperatures will be around 35 in the morning, dropping to near freezing in the afternoon. The snow will mix with rain or sleet at times.
Wednesday night: Cloudy, with snow or freezing rain in the evening, ending by 10 p.m. Low of 26.
Thursday: Some of the computer guidance shows a band of snow showers crossing the area between 8 and 10 a.m. Otherwise, it will be sunny but very cold, with a high around 35. A northwest wind gusting to 20 mph will put wind chills in the 20s.
Thursday night: Clear and quite cold. Low of 18.
Friday: Sunny and continued quite cold. High of 43.
Saturday: Sunshine, mixed with some clouds, and less harsh. High of 49.
Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 4 of our local newsletters:
The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website
◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Substack Notes