Thursday, October 1, 2026
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North/South Carolina, (WNN)- Winter storms Fern and Gianna hit the Carolinas one after the other in January 2026. They brought snow, ice, and strong winds. Gianna, in particular, left behind some of the heaviest snow the area has experienced in years.
From January 23 to January 27, Winter Storm Fern swept through the Southeast, leaving behind ice damage in the Carolinas.
The Carolinas faced heavy ice that created dangerous road conditions. Goose Creek in South Carolina, located northwest of Charleston, along with Myrtle Beach and Wilmington in North Carolina, saw significant ice build-up. North Carolina experienced over 400 traffic crashes throughout the storm. This also led to many counties closing schools for students and employees.
Before the Carolinas had a chance to recover, Winter Storm Gianna arrived on January 31. This storm brought heavy snow instead of ice. It essentially turned into a bomb cyclone, marking the second big winter hit in the Carolinas within the same week.
According to WCNC Meteorologist Brad Panovich, North Carolina witnessed history with 11.0” recorded on Jan 31. Winter Storm Gianna officially tied the 1880 record for the 4th greatest single-day snowfall in Charlotte history. It’s our biggest snow event in over 20 years, putting it among the city’s top five biggest snowfall records.
A ranking of the inches of snow Charlotte, NC has seen throughout the years.
Meteorologist Brad Panovich
It's estimated that Gastonia received 11 to 12 inches of snow, while Cherryville had between 8 and 12 inches. Heavy snow and whiteout conditions made driving dangerous in the Charlotte metro area, affecting places like Gastonia, Cherryville, and Shelby.
Winter Storm Gianna - Cherryville, NC - January 31, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
A huge crash involving 100 vehicles happened on Interstate 85 near Kannapolis, North Carolina, where over 14.5 inches of snow had piled up. The North Carolina National Guard stepped in to help people who were stranded. By Saturday night, the State Highway Patrol had logged 750 car accidents.
On Saturday, January 31st, more than 2,800 flights were canceled across the U.S., and another 1,700 were canceled on Sunday. Over 800 of those Sunday cancellations were flights scheduled to take off from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency due to both storms. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster decided to keep his emergency order active through the weekend to address Winter Storm Gianna.
Winter storm warnings started to end on early Sunday morning as Gianna began to slowly make its way out. However, as of Monday Feburary 2nd, some roads in the Carolinas are still icy, and some have yet to be scraped. It is best to use caution when driving on the roads if you have to drive.
Stay Safe and Stay Informed
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