Charlotte just broke its all-time high temperature record for March 27, making today the hottest March 27 in the city’s recorded history.
At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the temperature reached 86 degrees Thursday afternoon, according to National Weather Service observations. That broke the previous March 27 record of 85 degrees, which was set in 1950.
The record fell after a rapid warmup through the day. Charlotte started the morning in the low 70s, then climbed into the 80s by early afternoon before reaching the new record high.
Charlotte’s March climate records date back to 1879, giving Thursday’s heat extra significance. In nearly a century and a half of records, the city had never recorded a hotter March 27.
What makes the spike even more dramatic is how quickly temperatures are expected to fall. After hitting the mid-80s Thursday, Charlotte is forecast to cool into the low 60s on Saturday with sunshine, wind, and a much drier air mass.
The forecast also includes an elevated fire threat Saturday because of gusty winds and very low humidity.
For Charlotte, the day was a reminder of how fast spring weather can swing in the Carolinas. One day set a heat record, and the next will feel much closer to late winter than early summer.
