Prepare for the Chill: Essential Insights on Winter Storm Alerts!

Published on January 09, 2025

The National Weather Service has announced a Winter Storm Warning for Charlotte, North Carolina, effective from January 10 at 7 a.m. until January 11 at 7 a.m. Snow, sleet, and icy mixtures of freezing rain and ice are expected across the region. Please remain vigilant and prioritize safety.

Fallen Trees and Branches

Dial 911 for trees or branches obstructing a roadway or for any other urgent tree-related incident. For non-emergency tree concerns, please contact 311 or utilize the CLT+ mobile application or the online form to report it. You may view a map of storm-related tree requests online. Please be aware that municipal crews are unable to operate near downed utility lines of any type until they have been cleared by utility companies.

Before commencing cleanup on your property, inspect for hazardous hanging limbs, downed utility lines, broken branches, and other hazards. Additionally, cordon off damaged trees using caution tape, rope, and/or traffic cones. Be vigilant for fraudsters appearing at your residence claiming to be tree care experts. Conduct thorough research, check references, and ensure the business is credible.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

Implementing precautionary measures to avoid frozen pipes is essential in our region, especially if temperatures remain below freezing during the day following an overnight freeze. Some straightforward strategies to prepare your house’s plumbing include:

1. Opening cabinet doors under sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate around plumbing during the night.
2. Disengaging garden hoses from outdoor faucets.
3. Sealing any gaps and drafts in the crawl space or basement.

Find additional helpful suggestions by visiting Charlotte Water’s blog.

Road Safety

If travel is unnecessary during adverse weather conditions, the wisest decision is to remain at home. Nonetheless, for those who must navigate through the city, you can be assured that the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) is diligently preparing for the winter weather.

Crews have treated several higher priority routes, including bridges and culverts along those routes, earlier this week. On Jan. 10, crews began applying salt to the streets in anticipation of winter weather challenges.

CDOT would like to remind everyone that if you are on the road, you can contribute to keeping everyone safe by reducing your speed and increasing your following distance to allow ample time to stop for vehicles ahead.

Residents can read the complete City of Charlotte Emergency Plan for Ice Control and Snow Removal online.

Pet Safety

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control is rescheduling their monthly community outreach drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic. The clinic was planned for this Saturday, Jan. 11, but has been moved to Saturday, Jan. 18, at 2725 Beam Road, Charlotte, NC 28217. The hours will remain the same: 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Animal Care & Control also wants to remind pet owners to ensure they have a contingency plan for the predicted winter weather expected in our region this weekend. Be sure to review their Winter Safety Tips.

Solid Waste Services

The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services aims to guarantee the safety of its personnel and residents. Please assist them by adhering to these recommendations:

• To avoid any delays, please ensure your collection items are placed at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
• Position your garbage and recycling bins in an area that is free from snow and ice to allow our collection teams safe access.
• To aid our teams, please clear and de-ice your driveway and the vicinity around your bins. This will facilitate easier access for our teams to collect your waste.
• If your regular collection point becomes inaccessible due to snow accumulation, please relocate your bins to a more accessible spot, such as the end of your driveway or a clear street area.