CHARLOTTE, N.C — The last 90 days have been one for the record books as one of the warmest meteorological winters, as well as the warmest month of February on record.
Meteorological winter, which runs from Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, will likely finish as the sixth warmest on record for Charlotte. The average temperature over the last three months was 48.5 degrees, which is 6.5 degrees warmer than the typical winter season.
The warmer weather kept the snow totals for the Queen City below average, with 1.1 inches in only two days. But despite the lack of snowfall, there was still plenty of moisture this last season, with 9.8 inches of rain, just .18 inches behind the average.
The month of February aided in pushing the season above average for temperature, with only two days this month recording an afternoon high below average. There were also two new record highs set, on Feb. 11 and 12 as highs hit 77 degrees and 80 degrees, respectively.
With only one day left in the month, February 2017 will likely tie for the warmest on record, tying the previous record set in 1927. Multiple cities across the Carolinas also broke records for the average temperature this month.
[ FORECAST: Chance of thunderstorms, warmth through the middle of the week ]
The warmth looks to continue as we head into March. The outlook for the upcoming month keeps the southern half of the United States warmer than average, including the Carolinas.
Typically, March brings 4 inches of rain to the Charlotte area. The precipitation forecast for the next four weeks looks to stay above average for the Carolinas and much of the Southeast.
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