Update on record snows

[WXBUFFJIM]

A winter storm has slammed into Charlotte, NC yesterday with over one foot of snow. The following are snow totals from the tarheel state yesterday.

Charlotte: 13" with thundersnow
High Point: 12"
Raleigh: 5"
Ashville: 5"
Asheboro: 12"
Boone: 11"
Greer, SC: 8"

Anything over 13.3" in Charlotte will result in the second biggest single snowstorm of all time for Charlotte, NC. But why did this happen??

A coastal storm system developed yesterday off the Carolina coast. But lagging behind that was a very strong upper air disturbance over western South Carolina. This resulted in periods of heavy snow due to dynamic cooling. There was no arctic air in place, just dynamic cooling did the trick because the day before, it was over 50 degrees. Then all the sudden we see heavy snow in west central North Carolina. Last night, snowfall rates were 2-3 inches per hour with thunder and lighting reported across west central North Carolina. What's even more interesting was areas outside the above stations reported 18 inches of snow. This was because of the enhanced intensities due to thunder and lightning, much like you see if there is a heavy thunderstorm in the summer time. Whoever gets hit directly by that storm will see heavier precipitation. Same physical idea with this heavy wet snow. No doubt a nasty situation for the tarheel state today.

Jim Schuyler
weatherjas@hotmail.com

[JCT777]

Those are some incredible amounts, particularly in Charlotte. I am not sure what Charlotte's total snow for the season is, but I bet it is not far behind (if not ahead) of my area's total of 19.5 inches. Amazing!

[WXBUFFJIM]

Charlotte's average annual snow is just 5.6". 14.3" fell this season in Charlotte, 13" of that fell last night. This 13" snowstorm almost tripled their average annual snowfall.

14.3" is the total in Charlotte this season. 13" yesterday through last night, 1.3 inches in January.

Jim

[JCT777]

Thanks for the info, Jim. I was getting worried that someplace that averages under 6 inches of snow a year had more snow this season than where I live (which averages 26 inches of snow a year).