When weather forecasters predicted snow on April 1 for the following day, people thought it must be an April Fool’s joke. With temperatures climbing as high as 75 degrees at the end of March and trees already in bloom, snow seemed unlikely.
But many Charlotte-area residents were surprised to see fat snowflakes falling during their morning commute on April 2!
South Carolina counties just south of the border saw a mixture of snow and rain before the sun came up. Flurries and sleet made their way through North Carolina over the course of the morning, appearing in Mint Hill between 8:00 and 9:00 am. By mid-morning, the big fluffy flakes had dissipated into sleet and cold rain.
Although Mint Hill saw little to no accumulation, neighboring cities like Monroe and Waxhaw saw 1-2”. At 8:03 am, WCNC Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich reported that Charlotte had officially reached .1” of accumulated snow, the first measurable accumulation of snow in the city in 37 years. Panovich pinpointed the “bullseye” of the storm in central Union county, where residents saw up to 2” of snow on the ground.
April snow is incredibly rare in Charlotte. Trace amounts of snow fell last year on April 7 and 8, but the last time Charlotte saw measurable snow accumulation was 1982. It’s been over a century since Charlotte saw any significant snow accumulation in April: .6” in 1915, .8” in 1904 and a record-making 3.5” almost 140 years ago in 1880. Tuesday’s spring storm marked the 6th latest measurable snowfall Charlotte has ever seen.
With highs close to 80 over the weekend, let’s hope spring is finally here to stay!