Did you know that a comprehensive list exists of snowstorms before 1830 impacting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area? It wasn’t until the early-to-mid-1800s that weather observation networks started growing and expanding across the country, making qualitative data vital. Without the modern tools of scientific observation, folks relied on each other. Several diary entries reflect the worry of severe weather greatly impacting the growing crops. While this story doesn’t mention all of the snowstorms, several interesting photographs depict certain years of the coldest winters ever in North Carolina. And hopefully, if you experience one, a friend will guide you through.
The beast “silently glided along in front of her while the woods sheltered them.”
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons From “St. Nicholas,” 1873, by Mary Mapes Dodge.
- April 2 and 3, 1915, Raleigh
State Archives of North Carolina, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons This photo was taken on Hillsborough Street looking east from the 1400 block. St. Mary’s Campus is on the right, the house on the right is the location of IHOP now, the house in the middle is 1306 Hillsborough St., and the house on the far left is 115 W. Park Drive in Cameron Park.
Snow was everywhere, including at the intersection of Cannon Avenue looking northeast up West Street.
State Archives of North Carolina, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons This is now the vicinity of Dorothea Drive.
Close to the 2500 block of Hillsborough Street was also a mess with power poles lying around. Patterson Hall is in the far distance on the right.
State Archives of North Carolina, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons Imagine the work involved in cleaning this up without modern equipment.
- April 1987, One of the biggest recorded snowfalls
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook The biggest recorded snowfall from one storm system moving through the state was in early April, dropping a record 60 inches of snow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Dec. 23, 1989, White Christmas
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons This winter storm crept in from the Gulf of Mexico bringing 12 to 18 inches from Southport to Currituck, producing 60 mph winds and waves as high as 34 feet in the near-shore waters.
- March 12–14, 1993, Storm of the Century
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The 1993 “Storm of the Century” brought snow strong enough to cover this vehicle and take down a tree in Asheville.
- Dec. 5, 2009, Major snowstorm
Bro931, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This major snowstorm came from a powerful Nor’easter that formed over the Gulf of Mexico.
By midnight, snowfall in Boone had reached 14–18 inches, Asheville up to 12 inches, and Greensboro received 3–7 inches.
Bro931, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Pictured is an impassible road in Ashe County.
- Dec. 26, 2010, Post-Christmas snow
Wendy, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Residents in eastern North Carolina received several inches of snow the day after Christmas with reports of 6-8 inches.
- Jan. 9-11, 2011, Southeastern North Carolina
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons A winter wonderland met folks on the morning of Jan. 10, with a change to freezing rain making travel extremely hazardous. This NASA image was acquired on Jan. 12, picturing this unusual view of snow across the southern U.S. The course of white follows the track of a winter storm that moved across the country.
- Feb. 25 and 26, 2015, Heavy snowfall and ice
Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons A fast-moving storm system left heavy snowfall exceeding 8 inches in many of the impacted areas. Thank goodness for the winter catch team patrols down Interstate 85, as NC National Guard mobilized 96 soldiers to support the NC Department of Emergency Management for response efforts during those two days of snow and ice.
- Jan. 6, 2017, State of Emergency
Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency as 10 inches of snow fell in Greensboro, High Point, Lewisville, and Lenoir, counting 700 accidents, and 25,000 people were without power.
Here’s to a safe 2023.
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons And if you’re experiencing one of the coldest winters ever, don’t do it alone. Grab a friend and warm up with some delicious soup.
Do you recall any of these snowstorms? Is there one we left out? If so, please tell us about your winter memory in the comments below. Here’s another interesting story about the great blizzard of 2000.
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
From “St. Nicholas,” 1873, by Mary Mapes Dodge.
State Archives of North Carolina, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
This photo was taken on Hillsborough Street looking east from the 1400 block. St. Mary’s Campus is on the right, the house on the right is the location of IHOP now, the house in the middle is 1306 Hillsborough St., and the house on the far left is 115 W. Park Drive in Cameron Park.
This is now the vicinity of Dorothea Drive.
Imagine the work involved in cleaning this up without modern equipment.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park/Facebook
The biggest recorded snowfall from one storm system moving through the state was in early April, dropping a record 60 inches of snow in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This winter storm crept in from the Gulf of Mexico bringing 12 to 18 inches from Southport to Currituck, producing 60 mph winds and waves as high as 34 feet in the near-shore waters.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The 1993 “Storm of the Century” brought snow strong enough to cover this vehicle and take down a tree in Asheville.
Bro931, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
This major snowstorm came from a powerful Nor’easter that formed over the Gulf of Mexico.
Pictured is an impassible road in Ashe County.
Wendy, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Residents in eastern North Carolina received several inches of snow the day after Christmas with reports of 6-8 inches.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A winter wonderland met folks on the morning of Jan. 10, with a change to freezing rain making travel extremely hazardous. This NASA image was acquired on Jan. 12, picturing this unusual view of snow across the southern U.S. The course of white follows the track of a winter storm that moved across the country.
Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A fast-moving storm system left heavy snowfall exceeding 8 inches in many of the impacted areas. Thank goodness for the winter catch team patrols down Interstate 85, as NC National Guard mobilized 96 soldiers to support the NC Department of Emergency Management for response efforts during those two days of snow and ice.
Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency as 10 inches of snow fell in Greensboro, High Point, Lewisville, and Lenoir, counting 700 accidents, and 25,000 people were without power.
And if you’re experiencing one of the coldest winters ever, don’t do it alone. Grab a friend and warm up with some delicious soup.
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Address: Raleigh NC National Weather Service, 1005 Capability Dr #300, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
