Charlotte Weather

[grodney]

When was the last time there was a recorded tornado touchdown in Charlotte (or even Mecklenburg County)?

May 9, 2008 according to Observer's Weather Guy: http://obsweatherguy...do-history.html

Edited May 26, 2011 by grodney

[grodney]

Here is the database he is probably using for that info: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms

[southslider]

^That database shows relatively few tornados, none over an F2, very few injuries, and no deaths. I wonder if Charlotte is blessed with the nearby mountains as some sort of natural shield.

[AuLukey]

^That database shows relatively few tornados, none over an F2, very few injuries, and no deaths. I wonder if Charlotte is blessed with the nearby mountains as some sort of natural shield.

Well this is more observation than fact, but I've noticed over the last two decades that I've lived here that the surrounding counties have typically experienced harsher weather than Mecklenburg in terms of tornadoes and winter storms. Sure Meck/Charlotte gets its fair share of ice, but in terms of actual snowfall, the counties just twenty or so miles away always seem to get hit harder. It's almost like we're in a bubble. I have a few friends that call it our "urban blanket"

[grodney]

...It's almost like we're in a bubble. I have a few friends that call it our "urban blanket"

The wikipedia page for Urban Heat Island says that metro areas are less susceptible to weak tornadoes:

http://en.wikipedia....ban_heat_island

No mention of snow, however.

Edited May 31, 2011 by grodney

[grodney]

Today will be the 6th day in May at 90+ degrees this year. Last year we only had 1 day in May that hit 90. Of course, we then had 20 in June and it got worse after that.

Six 90s in May is the most in the last 10 years. 2004 had five 90-degree days in May.

[grodney]

Today's low at CLT was 59 degrees. That's the first time under 60 degrees since June 17 -- a span of 81 days.

How does that compare to other years? It's the longest 60+ run in the last 10 years:

2001 - 45 days - 5/30 to 7/15

2002 - 52 days - 6/16 to 8/8

2003 - 79 days - 6/23 to 9/11

2004 - 40 days - 6/5 to 7/16

2005 - 75 days - 6/21 to 9/5

2006 - 54 days - 7/9 to 9/2

2007 - 54 days - 7/23 to 9/16

2008 - 76 days - 7/2 to 9/17

2009 - 59 days - 7/4 to 9/2

2010 - 62 days - 7/4 to 9/5

2011 - 81 days - 6/17 to 9/7

[grodney]

Not to jinx us and knock on wood, here are some numbers from this winter (so far):

Since 11/20/2011:

18 days below normal high

5 days at normal high

57 days above normal high

2 days double-digits below normal high

28(!) days double-digits above normal high (that's 28 out of 80 -- better than 1 in 3)

[mediamongrel]

As a native NCer, rest assured this is pretty typical of Charlotte weather. For some reason I still am never ready for it though. AS June-Sept unfold the only way to get relief is to go to the mountains.

Dewpoints tend to be higher in the mountains because of the moist air getting "trapped" in between the mountains. Though the temperature may be 95 in Charlotte and the dewpoint 66, Asheville for instance may see only 89, but with a dewpoint of 69, making it feel about the same. The mountains (relative term) aren't much cooler, except for places like Boone and Jefferson. Those areas are a lot higher in elevation though. Areas like Forest City and Rutherfordton may be considered "the mountains" but they usually get temperatures equal to that of Charlotte because of the downsloping effect.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Charlotte and the Triad may have their first 90 degree temps of the year this holiday weekend. Central NC is one of the few places outside of New England and the Northwest that have not yet reached 90 degrees this year.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

This crisp, comfortable June weather is simply gorgeous. Look for highs to be in the 70's and lows in the nippy 40's and 50's over the next week or so. The mountains could see some frost! Enjoy, keep those jackets and pumpkins, uh, I mean grills handy!

[Norm2]

warm winter cool summer.....wow!

[mediamongrel]

warm winter cool summer.....wow!

so much for the cool summer...Charlotte tied the ALL TIME RECORD of 104 today (last set in 2007)

[mediamongrel]

3 days in a row for the all time high in Charlotte of 104.

[abttown]

It's so HOT outside, the community pool is empty! I'm assuming the water temperature has to be in the 90's by now.

[grodney]

Kind-of disappointing to not BREAK the all-time record high. I mean, if it's going to be HOT, let's at least be part of a standalone record. Ties suck.

[grodney]

With the fabulous weather lately, I decided to define "perfect weather" in terms of daily aggregate weather data, as found on wunderground.

These are all totally arbitrary, but I decided that the Perfect Day had:

High Temp 68-82

Avg Temp >= 60

Min Temp >=40

Max Dewpoint < 66

Avg Dewpoint < 60

No "weather" reported (rain, showers, t-storm, etc.)

CloudCover < 6 (this appears to be a number 1 to 10)

Avg WindSpeed < 9

By this criteria, we've had this number of Perfect Days each year:

2001 33

2002 8

2003 29

2004 25

2005 27

2006 33

2007 31

2008 22

2009 15

2010 18

2011 27

2012 22 so far

We've had 8 in September before today.

This is the average number of Perfect Days per calendar month over an 11-year period (so hopefully we'll get several more in October):

Jan 0.3

Feb 0.3

Mar 1.5

Apr 5.2

May 5.0

Jun 0.7

Jul 0.2

Aug 0.2

Sep 2.8

Oct 6.8

Nov 1.1

Dec 0.4

Edit: Oh geez, that formatting didn't work at all. Let me try again. Oh, that's a little better.

Edited September 25, 2012 by grodney

[ScottCLT]

Wow...that seems like something I would try to calculate, being a bit of a database freak.

Hopefully many "perfect" days in October. Let's set a record! (Like we have a lot of influence on it!)

[grodney]

I want Spring.  We've had a couple little teases this month, but this little cold spell is killing me.

 

Through yesterday we've had 12 days in March so far with a High Temp under 60 degrees, and the forecast isn't over 60 until 28th which would make 19 days.  How does that compare?

 

Number of March days with a High Temp under 60:

2001 19

2002 10

2003 8

2004 7

2005 13

2006 13

2007 4

2008 8

2009 11

2010 9

2011 13

2012 3

 

If we really get to the 28th before we hit 60, that will make 9 days after the 15th of March with a High Temp under 60.

 

Number of days March 15-31 with a High Temp under 60:

2001 10

2002 3

2003 3

2004 4

2005 5

2006 10

2007 2

2008 6

2009 3

2010 2

2011 5

Edited March 21, 2013 by grodney

[ScottCLT]

I really was hoping for a real winter storm this winter at least once. We did have a bit of a snow, but not a big one. Regardless, I like the cool temps honestly...not freezing, but cool. The only thing that worries me about spring is Summer. Not looking forward to hot and humid. Maybe I belong in Seattle weather-wise, but I do love Charlotte too much to leave.

[nowensone]

Ditto Scott.

[grodney]

Hot?  Yes, but the actual high temps haven't been excessively hot at all.

 

Year-to-date we've had only 4 days at 90+ for a high temp.

 

To compare to historical numbers, here are the number of 90+ days through Jun 30 for the last 11 years:

2001 8

2002 11

2004 9

2005 4

2006 9

2007 16

2008 18

2009 7

2010 22

2011 26

2012 10

 

We have 0 in July so far, and none in the 10-day forecast.

[ah59396]

Aside from the rain, this summer has been amazing.

[Urbanity]

I didn't realize there was more to this summer's weather other than rain... 

[Munson79]

This summer reminds me of those from my youth in the Adirondacks Mts. of Upstate New York. Fond memories.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Munson79