Charlotte Prepares Roads, Shelters as Winter Storm Approaches This Weekend

Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management has released a series of service changes for the coming days as forecasters call for snow across the area this weekend.

The updates matter because residents rely on regular trash pickup, transit and county offices for daily needs, and sudden closures can disrupt routines when roads turn icy. Local leaders have already declared a state of emergency that took effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, giving agencies extra flexibility to move resources quickly.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Emergency Management continues to monitor conditions while coordinating with city solid waste crews, CATS and Mecklenburg County offices. Road crews are plowing and salting streets to keep paths clear for first responders, and drivers are asked to stay off roads unless travel is essential.

Transit and Collection Adjustments

CATS suspended all service for Sunday after earlier changes that included running a Sunday schedule on Saturday and stopping bus service at 3 p.m. and Blue Line service at 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Monday, Feb. 2, bus and Blue Line service will run from noon until midnight, while express bus and Gold Line routes stay suspended. CATS Micro will operate from noon to 6 p.m., and STS services remain available. Routes are using snow plans, and riders can check the CATS detours page for the latest details.

Garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulky item collections will not occur on Monday, Feb. 2. Monday customers should set carts out by 6 a.m. Tuesday, while everyone else should place carts at the curb by 6 a.m. on their normal day and leave them until crews arrive. The week is a green recycling cycle. Residents can text their usual collection day to 73224 for alerts.

County Closures and Energy Requests

Mecklenburg County offices and services will close on Monday, Feb. 2, because of extreme cold and winter conditions. Expanded shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness began at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, and will continue at least through Monday morning. Duke Energy has asked customers to cut energy use between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. to ease strain on the grid, with outages reported by texting OUT to 57801 or calling 1-800-769-3766.

311 will handle non-emergency calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, while 911 remains reserved for life-threatening situations. Full details appear on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Winter Weather Storm Response Info Center page at charlottenc.gov.