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Charlotte faces “dangerous” low temperatures and wind chills from an approaching Arctic air mass, National Weather Service meteorologists said in an alert Saturday.

“Confidence is high that it will be very cold,” forecasters said earlier on the social media site X.

The NWS also is monitoring the chance of a wintry mix from a separate weather system, according to the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina.

Charlotte has a slim, 20% chance of snow showers on Tuesday and a 50% chance Tuesday night and early Wednesday, according to the NWS forecast at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The larger concern is the wind chill, predicted to be 5 to 8 degrees in Charlotte Monday night and early Tuesday and again Tuesday night and early Wednesday, NWS meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg told The Charlotte Observer.

Wind chill is what the temperature feels like, including wind.

“This prolonged cold period meets the definition of a ‘cold wave,’” NWS meteorologists said in a special weather statement early Saturday. “Its duration sets it apart from cold snaps of the kind we see multiple times each winter, and the associated impacts are expected to be more significant.”

High electricity demand could case outages, forecaster said.

“Those who require electricity for heating or medical equipment should consider backup heat or electrical sources,” according to the NWS.

Temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below normal are forecast in the Charlotte area, the mountains, N.C. foothills and Upstate South Carolina late Monday through Wednesday morning, according to the NWS.

A low of 21 degrees is forecast for Charlotte on Sunday night and early Monday; 16 degrees on Monday night and early Tuesday; 17 degrees on Tuesday night and early Wednesday; and 14 degrees on Wednesday night and early Thursday, according to the NWS.

Expected lows barely improve on Thursday and Friday nights, at a respective 21 and 22 degrees.

Frigid highs are likewise forecast after Sunday’s predicted high of 55 in Charlotte: 33 on Monday and Tuesday, 32 on Wednesday and 36 on Thursday.

Highs should edge up to 42 on Friday and 44 on Saturday, the forecast showed.

Those temperatures would represent the lowest of the winter season so far in Charlotte and elsewhere in the Carolinas, Rehnberg said.

Limit time outdoors, check on the elderly and other vulnerable people, and bundle up your pets, too, NWS urged.

This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

A North Carolina beach destination was recently recognized as one of the most charming small towns in the country.

HGTV included Ocracoke Island, at the southern tip of the state’s Outer Banks region, on its 50 most charming small towns in America list.

“Residents of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, like to say their town is the ‘cure for the common beach.’ The beach is accessible by ferry and sits beside Silver Lake, a scenic harbor. It’s popular for its shops and restaurants, historic British cemetery and its light station, the oldest still operating in the state,” HGTV wrote.

“Like a good scare? Take a ghost walk with a descendant of Blackbeard’s quartermaster, or catch a short boat ride to Portsmouth Island’s so-called ghost village.”

The HGTV list is the latest in a string of accolades the region has received. Last year, Southern Living named the Outer Banks as the most beautiful place in North Carolina, The Charlotte Observer reported.

CharlotteFive readers also named Ocracoke Island among their favorite beach destinations in the Carolinas last year due to its “laid back” feel and lack of crowds.

Ocracoke Island remained largely untouched by early English settlers due to dangerous sailing conditions until the late 1600s, when a port was established that connected the island to mainland communities, according to outerbanks.com.

The port quickly became successful, attracting pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard, who used the island’s geography to launch surprise attacks on passing ships. Blackbeard made the region his base of operations until his death in 1718, when the island returned to being a bustling port.

In the early 1900s, tourism began to grow due to the island’s excellent hunting and fishing, with further development in the 1950s and ‘60s when ferry service was introduced, the town’s tourism website says.

By the 1970s, Ocracoke had become a popular tourist destination, with its unique history and remote location attracting many visitors.

There are plenty of things to do on Ocracoke Island, according to visitocracokenc.com:

Ocracoke Island is only accessible by car ferry, visitocracokenc.com says. There are three ferry options:

Online reservations for ferries are currently not available, but you can call 1-800-293-3779 to book a reservation or for assistance.

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North Carolina

January 15, 2025 11:54 AM

Jaylan Henderson said he used his birthday money, received donations, and got “some help from mom” to collect everything

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HARRISBURG, N.C. — With temperatures dropping this weekend, one Charlotte-area teen is stepping up to help those in need.

15-year-old Jaylan Henderson, the creator of Jaylan’s Journey to STOP Homelessness, said he has collected enough hats, gloves, scarves, and toiletries to help around 500 people this weekend.

“I was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr because he helped his community during the 60’s and I just want to help my community also,” he said.

He says he used his birthday money, received donations, and got “some help from mom” to collect everything. On Monday, they plan to deliver those items to different shelters in the community.

“A lot of homeless people are cold [and] I see some people in the streets with signs, so I just wanted to help,” Henderson said.

Anyone wanting to help Jaylan with his cause can do so via Cash App: $JaylanJourney

The donations will come as Mecklenburg County braces for the bitterly cold temperatures, opening several warming shelters for unhoused neighbors Sunday night. Those extreme weather protocols are set to stay active through Wednesday. Groups working together are still accepting donations to help serve those in need.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses will take unhoused neighbors to these locations free of charge from Sunday through Wednesday. Riders just need to tell the driver which location they need to go to.

Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.

The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County will delay trash services for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday.

During the whole week of MLK Day (which is Monday, Jan. 20), all trash and recycling collection services will operate on a one-day delay starting Monday, according to City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services.

This means, for example, collections regularly scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 22 or Thursday, Jan. 23 will also receive service the following day.

▪ Mecklenburg County solid waste centers will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Hazardous and flammable items such as batteries, gas containers and chemicals, should not be placed in garbage and recycling carts, the city says. Instead of throwing hazardous items in the trash, take them to one of the county’s full-service centers.

More information is available on the City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services website, charlottenc.gov. For questions, call the city at 704-336-7600.

Mecklenburg County towns, including Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville and Huntersville, will operate on normal trash pickup schedules this week.

You can also place your real Christmas tree at the curb after removing all of the decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and tree stands.

Artificial trees and all wreaths should be scheduled for bulky item collection. You can schedule bulky items by calling 311, visiting curbit.charlottenc.gov or using the CLT+ app.

You can find your collection day by visiting the GeoPortal. Just type in your address to be reminded of what day of the week you receive service and if you are an orange or green recycling week.

Have a question about your community you’d like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you’d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.

The United Way hosts an annual event where snack kits serve residents throughout the Charlotte community.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of volunteers gathered in north Charlotte on Saturday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through United Way of Greater Charlotte's annual MLK Call to Service event, assembling thousands of snack kits for local nonprofits and after-school programs.

The event, hosted at Northside Charlotte, brought together people from various backgrounds to pack more than 3,000 snack kits for community distribution.

"We want to pull people together from all walks of life," said Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, Interim President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Charlotte. She emphasized that the day's service activities were meant to spark ongoing community engagement.

"We want people to engage with them and really learn about them, so that the active service we start today doesn't end today, and we can continue this service year-round," she added.

The event also served as a platform for emerging nonprofits to connect with the community. Project Outpour, one such organization, showcased its mobile shower and hygiene services for unhoused residents.

"Today's opportunity allows us to expand that reach and also creates opportunity for our community to get involved and volunteer with our neighbors," said MaShana Hughes, Chief Dignity Officer at Project Outpour.

United Way leaders emphasized the importance of individual participation in community improvement efforts.

"The one thing I want everyone to know is that they are part of the solution," Firmin-Sellers said. "They are part of and can actively help create the world we all want to see."

The event drew participants from various local organizations, including WCNC Charlotte team members, all working together to support the community's needs.

Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, just download the free WCNC+ app to get the news that impacts you.