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When does it first snow in Charlotte, NC?

At Charlotte, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 16. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Dec 17, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 18 or later. The earliest was Nov 19 (2000-01) and the latest Mar 1 (2008-09). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 17, and 70% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 3, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 1.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Jan 16Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 17Median first 1"+ snowfall

3.5"Average snowfall per season

0%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Nov 3Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 1Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

211Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Charlotte

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Jan 16	Dec 17 – Feb 18	Nov 19 (2000-01)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	87%
1" of snow or more	Jan 17	Dec 26 – Feb 19	Nov 19 (2000-01)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	70%
3" of snow or more	Jan 22	Jan 9 – Feb 27	Jan 3 (2001-02)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	30%

Based on 30 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	0%	3%	17%
1"+	0%	3%	13%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 14 (median).

White Christmas odds in Charlotte

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Charlotte had that in 0% of years, at least 3 inches in 0%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.0 inches and the deepest was 0 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 3% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 24 (8%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Charlotte

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 3	Oct 19 – Nov 11	Oct 9 (2000) / Nov 29 (2024)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 1	Mar 11 – Apr 17	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 12	Oct 27 – Nov 28	Oct 24 (2006) / Dec 2 (2020)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 16	Mar 4 – Mar 29	–	100%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 211 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Charlotte Douglas Ap (USW00013881), elevation 730 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in North Carolina (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).