Heavy Snow in Greater Rutherford, North Carolina

Moderate to heavy snow associated with a Gulf Coast storm system spread northward across the foothills and western piedmont of North Carolina during the early morning hours. The heavy snow accumulated quickly, and by sunrise parts of the southwest foothills and piedmont had received 4 inches of snow. The snow was lighter across the northern most foothills and piedmont, where only an inch or two of snow had fallen by mid-morning. The snow became lighter during the day, but continued to accumulate. By early afternoon, snowfall totals ranged from around 7 inches over the southern foothill and southwest piedmont locations, to around 3 inches over the northern most parts of the foothills and piedmont. During the afternoon, precipitation changed to light to moderate freezing rain, which continued into the evening hours. This added as much as a tenth to a quarter inch of ice to the heavy snowfall totals, resulting in sporadic power outages, particularly in the Charlotte metro area. Persistent cold air resulted in only gradual improvement in road conditions, with some businesses and schools remaining closed for several days.