CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first snapshot previewing winter weather in Charlotte has been released.
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has released a generalized overview outlining the chances of temperature fluctuations and precipitation odds for December, January and February. It is the weather outlook highly anticipated by snow lovers.
Temperature predictions
In recent years, Charlotte has observed warmer-than-average temperatures throughout much of winter. The last time it snowed 10 or more inches in Charlotte was the winter of 2003-2004.
Temperatures have had a lot to do with the city's prolonged snow drought. This winter, according to the Climate Prediction Center, Charlotte again has a chance of seeing above-normal temperatures.
During the dead of winter, the average high temperature is considered 52 and the average low temperature is considered 32 degrees.
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Precipitation predictions
There is a chance Charlotte could receive less precipitation than climatically normal, according to the Climate Prediction Center. This is not uncommon for a winter where La Niña is forming.
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These chances will not prevent Charlotte from seeing rain or snow. The outlooks are simply a predicted, statistical average over a three-month period when compared to the normal values. Day-to-day fluctuations could still result in cold, snowy weather for short periods of time.
Charlotte's snow drought
The last time the Charlotte was talking about snow was after it snowed back-to-back-to-back weekends in January 2022. It resulted in four inches of total snow that month.
Since then, there hasn't even been a flake of snow in Charlotte. Optimism for snow is a little higher for the North Carolina mountains but it will take a strong weather system carrying freezing air to prime the region for snow's return.