Yahoo Movies Latest snow forecast + New food market planned in west Charlotte
Friday Jr. already? Word. Kristen here. Looking for ways to fill your time this weekend? CharlotteFive’s Ebony L. Morman put together your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte for Jan 21-27. Just don’t forget your mask!
Also, our coffee shop bracket came to a close today! Who won? Well, you’ll have to click here to find out. :)
Let’s talk news:
1. It’s not 2 inches, but Charlotte could still see snow Friday
Great news for snow haters ... the National Weather Service has lowered its prediction of how much snow could fall across the region Friday.
Here are the details:
Forecasters originally predicted as much as 2 inches of snow in Charlotte.
But now the models predict the greatest snowfall will head east of the region late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Just a half inch is now expected in parts of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties.
Charlotte’s snow chances for Friday remain at 40% overnight.
There’s a 30% chance of snow showers Friday morning and afternoon and a 40% chance of snow after sundown, according to the NWS forecast at noon Thursday.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect for three counties in the region: Union and Cabarrus in North Carolina and Chester in South Carolina.
Stay updated on the potentially snowy weather with the Observer’s Joe Marusak and Mark Price.
2. New food market in west Charlotte planned, with $3M from county
Mecklenburg County will put $3 million toward the launch of a food distribution center in west Charlotte, as reported by the Observer’s Will Wright.
The Charlotte nonprofit Carolina Farm Trust hopes to open the site, which will bring locally-grown foods to neighborhoods with limited access to local groceries, in the spring or summer of 2023. Just 3% of homes in this part of west Charlotte are within a half-mile of a full-service, chain grocery store.
The space will serve as:
A retail space for residents to buy groceries.
A wholesale distributor for restaurants and some local markets.
The project is in the process of securing fundraising, but the approval of $3 million on Wednesday accounts for about 20% of the total $14 million start-up cost.
3. Is omicron spread slowing in North Carolina and Charlotte?
The omicron variant has sent statewide and local coronavirus infections and hospitalizations to record highs — but it may be finally slowing, Charlotte experts say.
“We’re starting to plateau,” Atrium Health infectious disease expert Dr. Katie Passaretti said Thursday. But “we haven’t yet turned that corner.”
By the numbers:
As of Tuesday, 4,689 people were hospitalized with COVID in NC.
During the current surge, on Jan. 13, close to 45,000 new COVID cases were reported by the state.
On Jan. 4, the state reported Mecklenburg saw 4,140 cases.
But in recent days, infections have slowed.
Learn more about omicron in Charlotte with the Observer’s Hannah Smoot.
4. Some selections from CharlotteFive
A cafe with ‘the best brunch I’ve ever had’ is closing this weekend by Melissa Oyler
Cafe 100, known for its stuffed French toast, lobster mac & cheese and cozy porch dining, will close for good.
Charlotte ranks in top 10 U.S. cities for millennials to buy homes, report shows by Melissa Oyler
A study released by Knock on Jan. 20 breaks down the top spots for home purchasing, by generation, out of 100 largest metros in the country.
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