It’s been over 20 years since Charlotte experienced a crippling ice storm. This weekend could be the next chapter of historic weather events.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As the Charlotte area braces for this weekend’s winter storm, an ominous forecast is calling back memories of Charlotte’s last crippling ice storm. 

Weather Impact meteorologist Chris Mulcahy says the current guidance has shifted to a significant ice storm with less snow expected for most of us. That’s bad news, especially when you combine the precipitation with all the cold air and sub-freezing temperatures. 

“I’m usually Mr. happy-go-lucky and everything like that, but I almost feel like I’m outside my comfort zone,” Mulcahy said on Live Impact News. “I’m saying things like ‘historic ice storm’ and things like that. The last time I think I was this passionate talking about a forecast was the Monday before Helene. I’m being straight up with you, this could be one of the most historic ice storms to hit Charlotte in modern history.” 

Mulcahy says some areas could see 12 straight hours of freezing rain. It will look like rain, but the drops freeze on contact, creating a layer of ice up to a half-inch thick. If it falls on top of snow, it will essentially create a solid layer that can’t be plowed or driven on. 


When was the last time Charlotte had a crippling ice storm?

You have to go all the way back to December 2002, when a half-inch of ice covered the Charlotte metro, closing roads and knocking out power for days across the Carolinas. It was one of the most destructive winter storms in North Carolina’s history. 

“Back in 2002, we had half an inch of ice. It was crippling,” Mulcahy explained. “They were out of power for two weeks in some places. There’s a chance we could have power outages last for days to weeks from Dallas, Texas, to North Carolina. I just want everyone to be in perspective that, as far as the setup goes, this is pretty much a once-in-a-decade setup.”

Roughly 2-3 inches of snow fell in the western Piedmont before transitioning to ice. There were widespread totals up to an inch of ice across the Charlotte region. Nearly 2 million people lost power, with some areas taking up to 10 days to restore electricity. In total, the storm caused an estimated $113 million in property damage. 

There were 24 deaths associated with the storm and over 200 hospitalizations, primarily due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper heater use. Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich says this storm led to changes that required carbon monoxide detectors in Charlotte. 


January 2016

To find Charlotte’s most recent significant ice storm, you only need to go back to January 2016. An extreme 41 inches of snowfall was reported at Mount Mitchell, challenging North Carolina’s 24-hour snowfall record. 

Across the Piedmont, ice was a major problem. Accumulations ranged from 0.25 inches to 0.65 inches from the Sandhills to the Triangle. Most of the mountains saw around 6 inches of snow, while a wintry mix and cold rain fell along the Carolina coast. 

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