The possibility of measurable snow in North Carolina during May

NORTH CAROLINA — While snow in North Carolina during the month of May is extremely rare, historical weather data confirms that it is not impossible.

The most notable instance occurred on May 7, 1992, when snow was recorded at elevations above 4,000 feet in the mountains, including measurable accumulation on Mount Mitchell and surrounding areas.

The snowfall that day was attributed to an unseasonably strong cold front and upper-level low pressure system that brought unusually cold air into the region.

According to the National Weather Service and climate records, May snowfall in North Carolina has only occurred a handful of times, and almost exclusively in the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains.

In lower elevations and the Piedmont or Coastal Plain regions, measurable snow in May has not been documented in modern record-keeping.

While the probability remains extremely low, especially in central and eastern parts of the state, the possibility of snow in the mountains during early May exists under rare atmospheric conditions.

Historical anomalies like the 1992 event serve as a reminder that late-season snowfall, though highly unlikely, is not beyond the realm of possibility in North Carolina.