Bus service is canceled, so you may have to walk. Snow is falling in Charlotte. The latest forecast is calling for 10 inches, the polar vortex shifted with more snow and cold air, wind chill below 0
A thick layer of snow is on the ground now in Charlotte, NC, the snow began on January 31, 2026 at 5 a.m. Six inches of snow has already fallen. But the polar vortex has caused the Charlotte area to get 10 inches of snow due to cold wet air. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram.
The polar vortex originally was forecasted to drop 6 to 8 inches of snow on Charlotte. But within the last hours it shifted and the polar vortex became colder and wetter, allowing heavier snow totals. The polar vortex is a combination of arctic air from the north and cold air from the south, when they mix it creates massive snow fall. The winter storm has already caused a lot of problem in Charlotte.
Now the snow accumulation will be 10 inches in Charlotte, maybe a little more in some areas due to winter bursts. A wind chill makes the temperature feel below 0, which can lead to frost bite and hypothermia.
Due to hazardous winter weather conditions across the Charlotte region, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will suspend bus service at 3 p.m. and Blue Line service at 5 p.m. today, Saturday, Jan. 31.
The last Blue Line train will leave I-485 Station at 4:30 p.m. and UNC Charlotte Station at 5 p.m. The final bus routes will depart the Charlotte Transportation Center at 3 p.m.
It snowed last week in Charlotte too, with ice accumulations and light snow.
The snow is stacking up on I-485 causing slow traffic. Car accidents have been reported across Charlotte. This is the most snow Charlotte has seen in over 10 years.
The snow is expected to stop at 11 p.m. and move south into Columbia, SC and east towards the beaches where a foot or more of snow is expected.
