Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Charlotte, North Carolina Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Charlotte weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Charlotte, NC
Saturday, July 4 at 3:44 PM
98
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
104°
Humidity
35%
Wind
9 mph
Sunrise
2:13 AM
Sunset
4:41 PM
Charlotte, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCharlotte, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 76°H 100°
Charlotte, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    99°76°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Rain
    29%
    0.13″
    101°76°+2°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    53%
    0.02″
    98°73°-3°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    53%
    0.09″
    93°70°-5°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    39%
    —
    95°71°+2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Partly Cloudy
    37%
    —
    97°73°+2°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    27%
    —
    98°73°+1°
Charlotte, NC
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°70°88°105°12p6p12a6anow 98°high 100°low 76°
Charlotte, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
163° · veering 76°
Direction
SSE
163°
Sustained
9
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
11
avg 3
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 3 · pk 11 @ 6:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 176SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 76° from the sse.
Charlotte, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
990.7
-2.1 mb in 3h · falling rapidly · 29.26 inHg
Now
990.7
mb
3h
-2.1
mb
12h
-1.3
mb
24h
-2.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 991–994
9859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW993.7990.9990.9
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Charlotte, NC
Air quality
55
AQI
Moderate
→-3 in 6h▲Peak ~74 @ 11 PM

AQI 55 (Moderate), driven by Ozone. Ozone at AQI 76 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
9.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
13μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
123μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
6.8

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 76 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 76
UV peak
6.5 at earlier today
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 76

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.9 µg/m³, PM10 at 12.6 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.79
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Charlotte, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
20%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
101.9mi
UNLIMITED
103 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
19:44 UTC · Charlotte, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
19:44 UTC · Charlotte, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Charlotte, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Charlotte, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Charlotte, NC
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:45 AM
Sunrise
2:13 AM
Daylight
14h 28m
Sunset
4:41 PM
Civil dusk
9:12 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Charlotte, NC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:10 PM
Moonset
10:33 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Charlotte, NC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Charlotte at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 22°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 18 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 28202, 28203, 28204, 28205, 28206, 28207, 28208, 28209 +21 more

16-Day Forecast — Charlotte

  1. Sat100°76°6%
  2. Sun101°76°29%
  3. Mon98°73°53%
  4. Tue93°70°53%
  5. Wed95°71°39%
  6. Thu97°73°37%
  7. Fri98°73°27%
  8. Sat100°71°43%
  9. Sun79°71°24%
  10. Mon90°66°14%
  11. Tue93°71°18%
  12. Wed93°69°33%
  13. Thu96°72°37%
  14. Fri96°73°51%
  15. Sat97°71°61%
  16. Sun95°70°74%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Charlotte

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Charlotte

SPC has placed Charlotte in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

Charlotte peaks at about 80°F in July and bottoms near 42°F in January; August brings the heaviest rain (4.3 inches) and February the least (3.1 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January42°3.5″7
February46°3.1″6
March53°4.0″7
April61°3.8″6
May69°3.4″6
June77°4.0″7
July80°3.7″6
August79°4.3″6
September73°3.7″5
October62°3.2″4
November51°3.3″5
December45°3.6″6

Regional context

Charlotte swings from 42°F in January to 80°F in July (38°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Charlotte runs about 43.6 inches on roughly 73 measurable days.

No season owns Charlotte's rain: August reaches 4.3 inches across 6.3 days and February keeps 3.1 inches on 6.4, an even spread through Charlotte's year. That lines Charlotte up with places like Pineville, NC, Matthews, NC and Mint Hill, NC, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Charlotte reaches its last hard frost near mid-March; that is the cue for peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Charlotte, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. The season ends by mid-December in Charlotte, once hard frosts set back in. A creek-bottom lot in Charlotte can lag Charlotte's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Pineville, NC, Matthews, NC, Mint Hill, NC, Stallings, NC, Belmont, NC.

Naturalist notes

Dogwood trees reach peak bloom across Charlotte in April, their white bracts creating patches of brightness before the canopy fully leafs out.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds return to Charlotte gardens in early April after their long migration from Central America.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Charlotte?
Charlotte's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in Charlotte the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Charlotte?
August is the wettest month in Charlotte, about 4.3 inches on average; the year totals roughly 44 inches.
What is the warmest month in Charlotte?
Charlotte peaks in July, when the mean runs near 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Charlotte?
January is Charlotte's coldest month, averaging about 42°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Charlotte?
In Charlotte, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-March; Charlotte's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Charlotte get?
Expect roughly 73 wet days a year in Charlotte.
What hardiness zone is Charlotte?
Because Charlotte bottoms near 42°F in January, that winter low sets Charlotte's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Charlotte?
Charlotte's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Charlotte?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Charlotte in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Charlotte?
Current conditions for Charlotte and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Charlotte forecast updated?
The Charlotte forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Charlotte?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Charlotte are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Charlotte?
The next few days in Charlotte's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a humid subtropical zone, Charlotte, North Carolina swings from 42°F in the heart of winter to 80°F at midsummer — a 38°F arc.

In a typical year Charlotte records about 44 inches of precipitation on around 73 days.

Charlotte's 38°F range, set by its 35.2°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Charlotte.

All cities in North Carolina →

ZIP codes in Charlotte

  • 28269
  • 28262
  • 28105
  • 28280
  • 28282
  • 28209
  • 28208
  • 28205
  • 28204
  • 28207
  • 28206
  • 28203
  • 28202
  • 28223
  • 28227
  • 28226
  • 28278
  • 28270
  • 28273
  • 28274
  • 28277
  • 28134
  • 28216
  • 28217
  • 28214
  • 28215
  • 28212
  • 28213
  • 28210
  • 28211
  • 28244
  • 28126
  • 28130
  • 28201
  • 28218
  • 28219
  • 28220
  • 28221
  • 28222
  • 28224
  • 28228
  • 28229
  • 28230
  • 28231
  • 28232
  • 28233
  • 28234
  • 28235
  • 28237
  • 28241
  • 28242
  • 28243
  • 28246
  • 28247
  • 28253
  • 28254
  • 28255
  • 28256
  • 28258
  • 28260
  • 28263
  • 28265
  • 28266
  • 28271
  • 28272
  • 28275
  • 28281
  • 28284
  • 28285
  • 28287
  • 28288
  • 28289
  • 28290
  • 28296
  • 28297
  • 28299

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.