What should you know about Charlotte's weather?
- NWS office
- Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP)
- Climate
- Humid subtropical
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 763 ft
- Coordinates
- 35.23° N, 80.84° W
- Nearest radar
- KGSP · Greer NEXRAD · 81 mi
- County
- Mecklenburg County, NC
- Yearly rain
- 43.6 in
- Warmest month
- July · 80.1°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 42.1°F average
- Severe storm peak
- May to Jul
How much rain does Charlotte get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 52.3 | 56.6 | 64.2 | 73.2 | 80.1 | 86.9 | 90.3 | 88.6 | 82.8 | 73.3 | 62.9 | 54.9 |
| Low °F | 31.8 | 34.9 | 41.2 | 49.1 | 58.0 | 66.2 | 69.9 | 68.7 | 62.6 | 50.4 | 39.8 | 34.5 |
| Rain (in) | 3.49 | 3.13 | 3.95 | 3.84 | 3.36 | 3.99 | 3.74 | 4.35 | 3.71 | 3.16 | 3.31 | 3.57 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52.3 | 31.8 | 3.49 |
| Feb | 56.6 | 34.9 | 3.13 |
| Mar | 64.2 | 41.2 | 3.95 |
| Apr | 73.2 | 49.1 | 3.84 |
| May | 80.1 | 58.0 | 3.36 |
| Jun | 86.9 | 66.2 | 3.99 |
| Jul | 90.3 | 69.9 | 3.74 |
| Aug | 88.6 | 68.7 | 4.35 |
| Sep | 82.8 | 62.6 | 3.71 |
| Oct | 73.3 | 50.4 | 3.16 |
| Nov | 62.9 | 39.8 | 3.31 |
| Dec | 54.9 | 34.5 | 3.57 |
CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC US · 6 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
How did Hurricane Hugo affect Charlotte?
Hugo reached Charlotte still packing hurricane-force wind gusts nearly 200 miles from the ocean. It came ashore just north of Charleston around midnight on September 22, 1989 as a Category 4 storm. By 5 a.m. its center was crossing Interstate 77 between Columbia and Charlotte. Countless trees crashed into homes and power lines, and downtown skyscrapers had large windows blown out. Hugo was responsible for three fatalities in the Charlotte area.
What does a flash flood look like on the Charlotte weather radar?
It looks like heavy rain that keeps falling over the same creek basins for hours. During the July 22 to 24, 1997 storm from the remnants of Hurricane Danny, up to 13.11 inches fell, including 11.40 inches in a single 24-hour period. Water rose 20 feet or more in Irwin Creek near Charlotte and in Little Sugar Creek near Pineville. The flood caused as much as $60 million in property damage, and three people died in flood waters. USGS warns that peak flows can move downstream rapidly, with little or no time to prepare.
Does heavy rain flood the same parts of Charlotte every time?
No, it depends on where the heaviest rain sets up. In the August 26 to 28, 1995 storm from the remnants of Tropical Storm Jerry, the highest totals fell in southeast Charlotte between Providence Road and East Independence Boulevard. Flooding was greatest in the Briar, McMullen and McAlpine Creek basins, while the Irwin Creek gauge saw only a 5 to 10 year flow. Two years later the upper Irwin Creek basin got 7 to 10 inches and its gauge reached a 100-year flow.
Does Charlotte get ice storms?
Yes. The December 2002 ice storm hit central North Carolina the night of December 4, and by the end of the next day much of the region had up to an inch of ice. Over a million people were stuck in their homes without power, and Duke Energy restored power across the central Carolinas within two weeks. Snow is lighter here, with a 1991 to 2020 normal of 3.5 inches a year at Charlotte Douglas. Freezing rain looks like ordinary rain on radar, so pair the loop with the hourly temperatures.
When should you check the Charlotte radar?
Thunderstorm season
May to JulyAbout 64% of Mecklenburg County's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall in these months. Fans heading to Bank of America Stadium check the loop before kickoff.
Peak hurricane season
Mid-August to mid-OctoberMost Atlantic hurricane activity falls in this window. Drivers on the I-485 loop watch the 7-day forecast when a storm heads inland from the coast.
What else do people ask about the Charlotte radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Charlotte?
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) issues forecasts and warnings for Charlotte. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KGSP, about 81 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Greenville-Spartanburg and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KGSP (Greer NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP)
- Severe storms peak from May to July (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KGSP, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP)
- Severe storms: May to July
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Greenville-Spartanburg office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- National Weather Service: Hurricane Hugo in the Carolinas
- National Weather Service: Hurricane Hugo, September 1989
- USGS: Effects of August 1995 and July 1997 storms in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
- City of Charlotte: City employees reflect on the 2002 N.C. ice storm
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 normals for Charlotte Douglas Airport
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology