Climate

Mountain Range & Weather
The Appalachian Mountain range often acts as a "shield", blocking the low temperatures, wind, and snow storms common in the Midwest from entering the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. When Midwest snow does make it past the mountains, it is usually light and is seldom on the ground for more than two or three days. Freezing temperatures occur on more than half the winter days, but zero weather is almost unknown.

Tornadoes & Hurricanes
North Carolina is outside the principal tornado area of the United States, but still averages two to three per year for the entire state. These occur mostly east of the Mountains during early spring. Tropical hurricanes come close enough to influence North Carolina weather about twice in an average year. Much less frequently, perhaps averaging once in 10 years, these storms strike North Carolina's Atlantic coast beaches with sufficient force.

Precipitation
High Point USA averages 42.3 inches of precipitation annually; July thunderstorms account for much of this precipitation. Most of the big snows that impact areas east of the mountains come from extratropical cyclones which approach from the south across Georgia and South Carolina before moving offshore. Average annual snowfall for High Point is 8.6 inches.

Average Temperatures & Rainfall

• Source: WGHP-TV, Fox 8 High Point