Feb. 4--Snow fell across the Charlotte area overnight, taking forecasters by surprise, turning streets into ice rinks, and closing schools across the area.

Street crews scrambled into action when snow turned into ice before daybreak, and conditions on the region's main roads started to improve after 8 a.m.

But a number of major streets in the area remain ice-covered, and police have responded to dozens of wrecks across the region.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are closed today, as are a number of nearby systems.

UNC Charlotte has delayed the start of classes until 10 a.m.

Normal conditions are being reported at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, but long delays are being reported at airports in Greensboro and Raleigh.

As was the case with a snowstorm last month, the worst conditions appear to be east of Charlotte.

Only about one inch of snow fell across the Charlotte area, but the snow was followed by fast-dropping temperatures that turned slush to ice. Since forecasters had not been predicting an accumulating snow, the area's street crews were forced to play catch-up.

The result is a mess this morning.

Police were forced to close a portion of University City Boulevard this morning after a bad wreck, but the road was reopened about 7:45 a.m.

Sardis Road North was closed a short time later, due to ice on two hilly portions of that street. City crews were spreading slag on the road at 8:30 a.m., and police hope to reopen the road soon.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesman Officer Robert Fey said the decision by school officials to cancel classes helped cut the number of wrecks.

"The amount of traffic on the roads this morning is noticeably less than a typical day," Fey said. He also reminded motorists to slow down and to avoid using cell phones while driving on the slippery streets.

Still, Fey reported that CMPD responded to 40 wrecks by 7 a.m. -- compared to 10 during the same time period Tuesday.

Eric Morrison, a spokesman for Mecklenburg County's emergency medical service, Medic, said crews have responded to 17 wrecks since midnight. Only four people needed hospitalization, he said, and all the injuries were not life-threatening.

Jen Thompson, of the N.C. Department of Transportation, said state crews are working to deal with icy roads -- especially on the east side of Charlotte.

"Twenty trucks have been working throughout the night in Mecklenburg County, and additional crews are coming in this morning," Thompson said. "Interstates are treated first, followed by primary U.S. and N.C.