Forecast: Fair and Fabulous

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JUST AS CHARLOTTE'S LOCATION offers residents the benefits of both the mountains and the ocean, it also offers the best of all worlds in weather. This makes the city’s weather one of its strongest assets, attracting visitors and new residents alike. The year is filled with days which invite you outside to enjoy the clear blue sky and bright sun, the perfect backdrop to Charlotte’s beautifully landscaped neighborhoods, commercial areas, parks and lakes.

The area’s climate can best be described as moderate, pleasant and sunny. Forget about the winter blues of our northern neighbors or the stifling summer heat of our southern friends. In Charlotte, the weather entices you outside all year.

Friendly Winters
Charlotte’s winter offers you a taste of the old man without all the shoveling, swerving and salt. Only half of the winter days fall below freezing and sub-zero (-18°C) temperatures have only occurred five times since 1878.

Snow is infrequent, with an average annual accumulation of less than six inches, but Charlotte is only two hours away from excellent snow skiing in the North Carolina mountains. Residents can enjoy the snow, without having to endure it.

Favorable Summers
The summer months lure Charlotteans outside. The bright sun and clear skies, dappled with pure white clouds, fill the summer days. Unlike cities to the south though, very hot weather conditions (90°F, 32°F) occur only 40 days in Charlotte compared to 81 days in Jacksonville, Florida and 83 days in Houston, Texas. On the average, temperatures reach 100°F (38°C) only twice a year. With an average summer temperature of 76°F (24°C) and an average daily range of 20 degrees, these inviting days are punctuated by cool nights under starry skies.

Fantastic Springs and Autumns
The transformations of the seasons in Charlotte are the most breathtaking times of the year. The slow emergence of spring, from mid-March through May, provides residents with a visual extravaganza. The Carolina blue skies accentuate the pinks, reds, yellows, purples and soft whites of the spring blooms which fill the city. Those same skies, crisp and clear, provide the setting for the brilliant array of colors which paint the trees during a fall which extends well into November.

Both seasons are appreciably long, providing a slow, enjoyable gateway into summer or winter. The average frost free season lasts 216 days from mid-March to mid-November. October and November welcome the cool temperatures which invite people outside to enjoy those brilliant fall colors which rival those of New England but are unknown in the deep south.

Balanced Rainfall
Once again the Charlotte climate offers the best of both worlds. The necessary rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year with an average annual precipitation of 43 inches (107.5 cm). By comparison, Miami has 60 inches (150 cm) and Denver 13 inches (32.5 cm). The summer months host the heaviest rainfall; March is the wettest month, with 4.4 inches (11.2 cm); and November is the driest month, with 3.0 inches (7.7 cm) of precipitation.

These refreshing rains are well balanced. Only occasionally will Charlotte have dry spells, which last one to three weeks. Droughts are rare and Charlotte has never had a major flood. Though occasional lowland flooding occurs, local stream and river basins are sufficient to carry most rainfalls effectively.

Relative Humidity
Relatively speaking, Charlotte is not the sultry South many think it to be. The city’s normal summer humidity is 74 percent, compared to 80 percent in the central interior of the United States, 77 percent in Jacksonville, Florida, and 76 percent in Houston. Yearly morning humidity averages 83 percent, noon humidity 54 percent and evening humidity 61 percent.

Absence of Severe Weather
Severe weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, is a rarity in Charlotte. The city is located outside principal tornado zones and the typical path of hurricanes along the east coast is such that storm centers are usually at sea by the time storms reach this latitude. The few storms that pass close to the North Carolina coast have little adverse effect on Charlotte.

Up to the Minute Forecasts
Accurate weather information for Charlotte is only a phone call away. The Charlotte office of the National Weather Service has a number of ways to keep you informed:
Forecasts: For recorded forecasts for the local area, beaches and mountains, dial (704) 570-1000.

Other Weather Information: The National Weather Service, at www.srh.noaa.gov, provides all types of weather-related information for the Charlotte area and other areas in the Southern region.

NOAA Weather Radio: The continuous broadcast at 162.475 Mhz (VHF-FM) will keep you posted on forecasts, weather watches and warnings, weather map features, educational information and will provide safety tips during severe weather.