How much snow does North Carolina get in a typical year?

(WGHP) — Snowfall across North Carolina varies greatly from the coast to the mountains.  

Our mountains often experience snow in the highest elevations as early as October, and there will be many events during the season with more than 25 episodes on some of the highest elevations. Along the coast, snow does not even fall every winter.

Most of North Carolina averages at least 2 inches of snow, and, as you travel north and west, those normal amounts climb steadily.

By the time you reach the Piedmont Triad, we average 7-10 inches per season. I don’t say winter season because we have had snowfall in late fall and into early spring. 

By the time you reach the mountains, the higher elevations lead to a colder climate and greater snowfall. Most of our mountains get at least 20 inches, and areas above 4,000 feet average at least 40 inches. Some of our peaks are taller than 6,000 feet, and these areas can see more than 80 inches of snow. Also, our highest mountains sometimes get their last snowfall in May.

Our snowiest winter was in 1926-1927, when we had 32.5″. Most of that came from a huge snowfall on March 1-2, which dumped more than 20 inches from the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain of NC. 26 inches fell in High Point, and, in Wilson County east of Raleigh and south of Rocky Mount, nearly 40 inches fell.

Our second snowiest winter, with over 30 inche,s was in 1959-1960. Most of that snow also came in March when we had snow for three straight Wednesdays.