Pittsboro, NC – Based on historical climate data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the North Carolina State Climate Office, here are the heaviest 1-day snowfalls recorded in Chatham County history.
The official 1-day record is from the Great Blizzard of 1899, though the storm of March 1927 produced a higher 2-day total, and the January 2000 storm is widely considered the modern benchmark for the region.
1. February 13, 1899: 16.0 inches
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Event: “The Great Blizzard of 1899”
Details: This stands as the official NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information) record for the highest snowfall in a single 24-hour observation period in Chatham County. This historic cold wave brought sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions across the entire Southeast.
2. January 25, 2000: ~15.0 – 18.0 inches
Location: County-wide (Siler City, Pittsboro, Moncure)
Event: “The Surprise Snowstorm of 2000”
Details: While specific station data for this date in Chatham is fragmented, surrounding reports confirm this as a top-tier event.
Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) recorded 20.3 inches (its all-time record).
Montgomery County (just southwest of Chatham) recorded 24.0 inches.
Chatham County sat directly in the heavy snow band, with totals generally estimated between 15 and 18 inches, paralyzing the region for days.
3. March 2, 1927: ~14.0 – 16.0 inches
Location: Moncure, NC (and county-wide)
Event: “The March 1927 Blizzard”
Details: This storm holds the 2-day snowfall record for Chatham County. The weather station in Moncure recorded a massive 26.0 inches over a 48-hour period (March 2–3). While the single-day observation did not technically beat the 1899 record (likely due to the snowfall spanning across the reporting cutoff time), the intensity of this storm was likely the greatest in county history.
4. December 9–10, 2018: 11.0 – 12.0 inches
Location: County-wide
Event: “The Early Winter Storm”
Details: This surprisingly early storm dropped heavy, wet snow across the Piedmont.
Greensboro recorded 12.0 inches.
Siler City and Pittsboro reported widespread totals of roughly a foot, causing massive power outages due to tree limbs still having leaves.
5. March 9, 1960: 11.0 inches
Location: Pittsboro / Siler City area
Event: “The Wednesday Storms”
Details: This was part of a legendary sequence where snow fell on three consecutive Wednesdays in March.
Greensboro officially recorded 11.1 inches.
Chatham County totals were consistent with this band, generally reported around the 10–11 inch mark.
Honorable Mentions:
January 23, 2016: ~8–9 inches (Part of a massive East Coast blizzard).
January 2002: ~6–8 inches (A significant storm, though heavier in counties slightly north and west).
| Rank | Date | Approx. 1-Day Total | Notes |
| 1 | Feb 13, 1899 | 16.0″ | Official NOAA 1-Day Record (Pittsboro) |
| 2 | Jan 25, 2000 | ~15-18″ | RDU record (20.3″) suggests Chatham totals were near historic highs. |
| 3 | Mar 2, 1927 | ~15.0″* | Produced 26.0″ over 2 days (Moncure); likely the biggest storm overall. |
| 4 | Dec 9, 2018 | ~12.0″ | Widespread foot of snow; early season event. |
| 5 | Mar 9, 1960 | ~11.0″ | Part of the “Three Wednesdays” snow series. |