CHARLOTTE, N.C. â If you're dreaming of a white Christmas in Charlotte, you might want to hit the snooze button because your chances aren't good, according to Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich.
"Zero chance this year," Panovich said on X, when asked about the possibility of a white Christmas in North Carolina.
RELATED: Brad Panovich's winter snow outlook
How often it snows on Christmas in Charlotte
Snow on Christmas in Charlotte is pretty rare, so it's not like this is a strange prediction. In fact, Charlotte's only seen measurable snowfall on Christmas four times since record keeping began in 1878. That's less than 3%! There has been a trace of snow seven times, but a trace is hardly any at all because you can't measure it.
You could argue we're due, as the last time Charlotte had a snowy Christmas was 2010, but even then, it was just 0.4 inches. Another 1.6 inches fell the next day, making for a winter wonderland across the Carolinas at the end of the year.
Crunching the numbers, measurable snowfall happens on average every 36 years in Charlotte. And the chance of seeing at least some snowflakes happens every 13 years. That would take us back to 2010, but things aren't looking great. Never say never, but in this case, we'll say it's highly unlikely. Sorry about that, Bing.
A typical Christmas in Charlotte has a high of 53 degrees and a low around freezing. Last year was much colder with a low of 13 degrees and a high of just 39. Christmas Eve in 2022 was downright frigid with a low temperature of 9 degrees and the Carolina Panthers played the coldest game in the team's history against the Detroit Lions.
Christmas weather records in Charlotte
- Coldest temperature: 4 degrees in 1983
- Warmest high temperature: 77 degrees in 1955
- Most rain: 2.32 inches in 1914
- Most snow: 5.8 inches in 1947
There's still time for snow, don't worry
Last winter was the first snowless winter in Charlotte's history. Not even a trace of snow fell in the Queen City in 2022. This winter, something completely opposite to last winter is happening.
Officially, Panovich is forecasting some snow this winter. How much is still up in the air, but Brad's predicting a slightly above average total. Click here for his complete winter snow outlook.
Contact Brad Panovich at bpanovich@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.