The Charlotte region is about to experience another rare weekend winter wonderland, and if we see snowfall as predicted, it will be the first time in recorded history that the Queen City experiences 3 straight weekends of snowfall.
Back in 1960 (the coldest March North Carolina has ever experienced), Charlotte saw snowfall on the same day 3 weeks in a row, but that snow fell in the middle of the week, on 3 consecutive Wednesdays.
The National Weather Service has just issued the following Winter Weather Advisory for the Charlotte region:
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches. * WHERE...A portion of the Carolina Piedmont, including much of the Charlotte metropolitan area. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 7 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Precipitation is most likely to be rain through the evening commute, but a little bit of snow and sleet could mix in. Accumulating snow is not expected to occur until later in the evening.
According to Weather Underground, Charlotte will begin to see her first flakes fall at around 10pm this evening, and they will continue to fall until about 1am on Saturday morning, with expected accumulations of between 1-2 inches.
Charlotte will also experience exceptionally cold wind chills in the teens on Saturday morning.
If you moved here from Ohio or New York (like myself), you may be rolling your eyes, but if you’re from Florida or California, you might need to make some changes to prepare for the coming winter storm.
To prepare your car, top off all your fluids, especially your oil, power steering fluid, and antifreeze. You’ll also want to check your tires and make sure your air pressure is over 32 PSI.
To prepare your home, make sure to drain all fountains and exterior water fixtures. Always let at least one of your faucets drip to avoid freezing pipes. Consider buying a humidifier if you’re sensitive to dry air. If you have an older home with older windows, investing in some shrink film insulation will save you a ton on your heating bill.
To prepare yourself, buy some thermal gloves, a warm hat, and a winter jacket. If you’re going to spend any length of time outside, you may even want to consider buying an electric heating jacket.
If you have a pet – make sure to read our article about how to keep your furry friend warm!