Things To Know Before Moving to North Carolina: Our Weather and Seasons

I love North Carolina with a very deep passion, and I am very aware of the fact that North Carolina, and especially the Charlotte region, is a hot spot for different people from all walks of life to come here and settle down. Of course, there are many amazing reasons to live here, such as our seasons and our bevy of delicious foods (like Cheerwine pound cake, vinegar-based barbecue, sweet tea, and so much more). However, as someone who has also lived here for several decades, there are just a few things that I personally think you ought to know and be familiar with, if only so that you can’t say that no one warned you.

NORTH CAROLINA WEATHER AND SEASONS

In the winter, when we have a major snowstorm, in the hours or even days leading up to it, there are only two things that you need from the store. That’s it. If you’re guessing water and toilet paper, not quite. It’s milk and bread. Milk and bread are the two things that will be cleared out the quickest during a major snowstorm, so stock up early. While you’re there, ask someone how to make a milk sandwich, and if they’re local, you’ll probably get a laugh.

In the spring, especially during prom season, we get increased tornadic activity.  You know there’s tornadic activity on the horizon when the sky starts to turn a strange yellow-green color and also by checking the local weather radar. When you combine the two, you have an even better chance of knowing before a meteorologist actually tells you. The damage that we get from storms can be so bad at times that if you don’t have insurance, and a tree slams into your roof, you’re in a world of trouble. Especially because when we get a bad storm like that around here, it usually continues to rain for several days.  I cannot stress this enough, please make sure that your insurance on your new home is effective on DAY ONE of moving in, and that you feel confident in your policy.

In the summer, we can get hurricanes, tropical storms, and even just weird summer storms. Places you never thought could actually flood will become a river worthy of the finest canoes. When I went through real estate school, I learned that Charlotte gets more rain than Seattle, but we have more sunny days, so in other words, when it rains here, it POURS. Go ahead and stock up on your rainboots, raincoat, and matching umbrella, and learn to dance in the rain. At least you don’t have to water your garden when it rains.

In the fall, easily one of my favorite seasons, it starts getting chilly and the leaves change into radiant shades of red, orange, gold, yellow, and brown. Since apples are also grown in this region, there are several different apple and fall festivals. The weather calms down during this time, and you put your summer clothes away and start pulling out your jackets, boots, shawls, scarves, gloves… you can easily transform into a whole new person. Sometimes, I find that in the fall, I miss the summer months and all of the greenery, but the seasons changing really can signal a new phase in our lives. It’s a marker to see what we’ve done and how far we’ve come.

Ultimately, thank you, North Carolina, for having beautiful seasons and even your wild weather, and thank you, dear reader, for taking the time out of your day to check out my article. I hope you found it humorous, insightful, and endearing. Please subscribe for more articles like these and enjoy the rest of your day!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

2024 Compare Climate & Weather: Seattle, WA vs Charlotte, NC (bestplaces.net)