Does it snow in Charlotte (NC)?
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC)? The short answer is yes! On average, 45 hours and 36 minutes of snowfall with accumulations more prominent than 0.1 inches will occur during the winter. Nevertheless, we’re sure: you want to know more than that.
Known as Queen City and The Hornet's Nest, Charlotte, the most populous city in North Carolina and the 16th most populous in the United States, stands as the third major city with the highest growth rates in the United States and as the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country in recent years.
Charlotte is an eponym attributed to the city in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz: the queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland between 1761 and 1818. The second nickname, The Hornet’s Nest, was attributed to the city by the British commander Charles Cornwallis in honor of the ferocity of the Charlotteans.
Nowadays, Charlotte is considered one of the leading centers of culture, history, economy, and transportation within the Charlotte metropolitan area: the 23rd largest metropolitan area in the United States.
The economic importance of Charlotte transcends Mecklenburg County and the state of North Carolina, as this city is considered the second largest banking center in the United States. Not in vain is it home to corporate headquarters of the stature of Bank of America, Truist Financial Corporation, and Wells Fargo (East Coast).
Beyond its importance as the nerve center of the American economy, Charlotte boasts fascinating tourist attractions. Here sports lovers can visit the headquarters of the Carolina Panthers (NFL-Football), Charlotte Hornets (NBA-Basketball), and Charlotte FC (MLS-Soccer), as well as the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
If you prefer to visit cultural, artistic, or historical centers, you can delight yourself with the more than 30 museums and art centers that Charlotte offers its visitors. The Charlotte Museum of History, the Historic Rosedale Plantation, The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte, and much more await you in Charlotte.
Snow in Charlotte (NC)? ❄

Located about 878 miles from the center of the Gulf of Mexico, Charlotte exhibits, like most cities in the state located in the Piedmont region, a humid subtropical climate (Köppen, [Cfa]) stable and with almost minimal variations throughout its 309.25 sq mi of land area.
Due to geographic factors (location, elevation, warm air currents), Charlotte does not experience significant snowfall.
Like the cities that share this type of climate (humid subtropical climate), Charlotte's snow season does not extend throughout the winter (December to March) but only between January and February. Although it is possible to see snowfall in December and March, the probability of this phenomenon occurring in those months is very low.
On average, Charlotte sees 3.5 inches of snow accumulation per year.
The climate of Charlotte (NC) ⛅
CHARLOTTE WEATHER
According to the Köppen climate classification, Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), with minor variations, as do most southern North Carolina cities located on the Piedmont Plateau.
Despite having a vast land area (309.25 sq mi), Charlotte does not exhibit notable climatic variations (even monthly rainfall levels vary very little throughout the year).
Summer in Charlotte is warm, though not necessarily sweltering. On average, the average daily temperature is below 90 °F. Occasionally, daytime temperature spikes above 90°F during the summer (on average, Charlotte experiences temperatures above 90°F 44 days a year). However, this windchill does not hold up throughout the day.
Humidity is another factor to note about summers in Charlotte. This season is usually wet, although not exceptionally different from the rest of the year. While August is the wettest month of the year, with 4.35 inches of rainfall per month, July and September are less humid than other winter and spring months.
Oddly enough, Charlotte's summer months share the same record high temperature (104°F). Under this premise, June, July, August, and September can be considered the hottest months of the year in Charlotte. Nevertheless, noteworthy that July has the highest average maximum of all the summer months (97.0 °F).
Similar to what happened in summer, in Charlotte, the winter months share the same record low temperature (-5 °F), except for February (-4 °F).
In contrast to summer temperatures, winter temperatures are usually much milder. On average, the daily mean temperature for January (42.1 °F), the coldest month of the year, only represents half of the daily mean temperature for July (80.1 °F), Charlotte's warmest month.
Summer weather characteristics
- Highest record temperature: 104 °F / 40 °C (In total, this temperature has been recorded six times since the founding of the city.)
- Mean maximum: 94.95 °F (34.9 °C).
- Average high: 87.15 °F (30.6 °C).
- Average low: 66.85 °F (19.3 °C).
- Mean minimum: 56.88 °F (13.8 °C).
- Average precipitation per summer month: 3.947 inches (10 cm).
- Average precipitation days per summer month (≥ 0.01 inches): 9.72.
Winter weather characteristics
- Lowest record temperature: -5 °F / -20.5 °C (January 21th, 1985).
- Mean maximum: 74.25 °F (23.4 °C).
- Average high: 57 °F (13.8 °C).
- Average low: 35.6 °F (2 °C).
- Mean minimum: 19.35 °F (-7.02 °C).
- Average precipitation per winter month: 3.53 inches (8.9 cm).
- Average precipitation days per winter month (≥ 0.01 inches): 9.95.
Precipitation and other weather characteristics
- Average annual precipitation: 43.60 inches (110.7 cm).
- Average precipitation days (≥0.01 inches or 0.25 mm): 112.4.
- Average annual snowfall: 3.5 inches (8.89 cm).
- Average snowy days per year (≥0.1 inches): 1.9.
- Average frost per year (times): 60.
When does it snow in Charlotte (NC)? 🌨

Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in November?
Yes, it might snow in November. Although, the chances of this weather phenomenon occurring are extremely low. Even if it did happen, it would only reach 0.1 inches of snow accumulation per month.
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in December?
Yes, it might snow in December. Like November, snowfall is rare in December, making it impossible to experience a White Christmas in Charlotte.
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in January?
Yes, it does! January is the snowiest month of the winter season in Charlotte, with 1.6 inches of accumulation and 21.6 hours of snowfall greater than 0.1 inches.
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in February?
Yes, it does! Compared to January, snowfalls slightly decrease in intensity and frequency. Although, the average snow accumulation levels continue to be above an inch.
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in March?
Yes, it might snow in March. However, the odds are almost as low as in November and December.
Does it snow in Charlotte (NC) in April?
Yes, it might snow in April. Oddly enough, on April 2, 2019, Charlotte experienced a snowfall that left a slight buildup in its wake.
How much does it snow in Charlotte (NC)? 🌨
Next, we present an informative table on different climatological parameters of Charlotte (NC), which includes average snowfall and the average snowy days expressed in inches:
Month | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
Average low (°F) | 31.8 | 34.9 | 41.2 | 49.1 | 58.0 | 66.2 | 69.9 | 68.7 | 62.6 | 50.4 | 39.8 | 34.5 | 50.6 |
Record low (°F) | −5 | −5 | 4 | 21 | 32 | 45 | 53 | 50 | 38 | 24 | 11 | −5 | −5 |
Average precipitation (inches) | 3.49 | 3.13 | 3.95 | 3.84 | 3.36 | 3.99 | 3.74 | 4.35 | 3.71 | 3.16 | 3.31 | 3.57 | 43.60 |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.3 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.1 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 9.6 | 112.4 |
Average snowfall (inches) | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.5 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
The above data comes from climatic data provided by the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Related post → Does it snow in United States of America? | Does it snow in North Carolina? | Does it snow in Asheville (NC)?
Source → WeatherSpark.