Snowfall in the mountains as frigid air reaches Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The bitter cold has arrived in Charlotte and it will last into the weekend.

The snow in the mountains has pretty much wrapped up with little additional accumulation. Totals have ranged from 1-3 inches in the lower elevations, to 6"+ in the higher elevations. Wind chill values Friday morning in the mountains ranged from 10-20 degrees below zero.

Department of Transportation crews worked through the night trying to clear the roads in the mountains but they're still dangerous because of all the snow. Because of that, schools in Ashe and Avery counties are closed Friday.

Crews were reporting that snow was a bigger issue than ice.

In Boone, people were bundled up as they headed off to work. The main roads have improved all morning but there are still some slick spots and many of the secondary roads remain snow-covered.

The temperature has really plummeted in the last 24 hours.

"I bring them out for ten or fifteen minutes at a time and then we go back inside and warm up. They've got two shirts on, coat, two pairs of pants and two pairs of socks. They are ready to go," said Bill Turner, a man visiting from Florida with his children who wanted to see snow.

"Forties yesterday, and then dropping into the lower digits definitely shocking to the system, but we're prepared.  We get ready for things like this," said Natalie Nicastro of Booone Bagelry.

Some are enjoying this cold start to the New Year's.   

The slopes had plenty of skiers Friday including a brother and sister from Concord who made sure to cover every part of their body before heading up the hillside.
 
"Definitely had to go buy a mask today and rent goggles.  Yesterday we didn't have anything on our face so it is a lot windier and colder," said Jessica Ballesteros.

Blue Ridge Electric told Eyewitness News they had several outages overnight but I'm told all of that power has been restored.

Many neighborhoods north of Charlotte will not even hit the mid-30s Friday.

The heart of the cold spell lasts into the weekend with temps in the teens expected Saturday morning. More rain arrives Sunday, with a reinforcing shot of cold air next week.

It will be sunny and cold with highs barely reaching the mid-30s in Charlotte Friday and temps dipping into the teens area wide Friday night – but at least the winds will die down.

WSOC