The 1911-1912 winter season, as well as the 1912 calendar year, holds the record for the snowiest on record at both Wilmington, NC and Lumberton, NC. Official snow records in Wilmington go back to 1871, while snow observations were recorded in Lumberton by a COOP observer from 1903 to 1993. Two back to back snowstorms in early 1912 were responsible for the record season totals.

Season Totals | January 7 | January 13-15 | February 10-11 | November 28

Season Totals

During the 1911-1912 winter season (October 1911 - April 1912), most of southeast North Carolina and northeast South Carolina recorded an astounding 12 to 25 inches of snowfall. A COOP observer in Lumberton, NC measured the highest season snow total locally of 25.3". Two heavy snowstorms in early 1912, January 13-15 and February 10-11, made up the majority of the season snow totals.

Looking at the snowiest seasons (October - April) and calendar years (January - December) on record for both Wilmington, NC and Lumberton, NC, 1912 is the number one for all. Other notable years on the top 5 list were the result of historic local snowstorms: 1896 eastern NC blizzard, 1973 "Great Southeastern U.S." snowstorm, and the 1989 Christmas snowstorm. (Official and unofficial snow records at Florence, SC began in 1948, and at Myrtle Beach, SC in 1940).

January 7, 1912 Snow

To start the snowiest season on record at both Wilmington and Lumberton, a weak low pressure system offshore combined with strong cold air advection around high pressure to the west led to light snow across the Carolinas. Lumberton recorded 0.3" of snow, while Darlington and Florence, SC measured a trace. Elsewhere in the Carolinas, 2-4" of snow fell around Raleigh and Goldsboro to the north and 1-2" of snow fell in western South Carolina.

January 13-15, 1912 Snow Storm

The first major snowstorm of the 1912 season occurred mid-January as offshore low pressure moved up the East Coast with a dissipating cold air damming wedge inland. Most of the snow fell between January 13th and 14th, with lingering snow traces for another day or two. The heaviest snow fell across southeastern North Carolina and into the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The highest snow total for the storm of 13 inches was measured in Lumberton, NC and in Snow Hill, NC. The 13 inches of snow in Lumberton is tied for the biggest snowstorm on record (from 1903 to 1993), with 13" also seen on March 2-3, 1980. Wilmington, NC measured 8.6" of snow during this storm, with 8.4" falling on January 13th - this is the 5th highest single day snow at Wilmington. Temperatures at Wilmington did not get above freezing for multiple days, with a low temperature of 13°F the morning of the 13th (lowest since 1899). 

Historic newspaper articles detail numerous delays to passenger trains and mail carriers due to the heavy snow. Snow fell continuously on Saturday, January 13th with brisk northerly winds, blowing snow and adding to the already chilly temperatures. The nine inches that fell in Darlington on the 13th was stated to be "the heaviest snow of which there is any authentic record" in the city (The Herald and the News 1/16/1912). Conway, SC saw its first snowfall in 8 years (last snow was in 1904). The Horry Herald stated snow was still on the ground Wednesday morning (January 17th).

Newspaper Clippings (Click on an image to view full newspaper article.)

Fayetteville Index Jan 17, 1912	Wilmington Morning Star Jan 14, 1912	Wilmington Morning Star Jan 16, 1912	Robesonian Jan 15, 1912

Robesonian Jan 18, 1912	The Herald and the News Jan 16, 1912	The Horry Herald Jan 18, 1912

February 10-11, 1912 Snow Storm

The second major snowstorm of the year occurred the evening of February 10th into the 11th and covered most of the eastern Carolinas in heavy snow, the result of a low pressure system moving up the Southeast coast. Over 8 inches of snow fell across northeastern South Carolina and almost all of eastern North Carolina. The highest storm totals were 18 inches of snow in Smiths Mill, SC (Williamsburg County) and 15 inches northeast of Belhaven, NC (Beaufort County). Wilmington, NC recorded 9.4" of snow on February 11th, which is the 3rd highest single day snowfall on record at ILM (#1 - 11.1" on 2/18/1896; #2 - 9.6" on 12/23/1989). Lumberton, NC recorded 12" of snow on the 11th, which is the biggest single day snow on record for LBT (from 1903 to 1993).

The Morning Star out of Wilmington (2/13/1912) stated the February snowstorm, while heavier, did not cause half the inconvenience that the January storm did, mainly because the snow melted quicker than the previous storm and the public was better prepared. The article also paints a fun picture of people visiting Wrightsville Beach the afternoon of the 11th enjoying the surf before they "rolled around in the snow, clad in their bathing suits." 

Newspaper Clippings (Click on an image to view full newspaper article.)

Fayetteville Index Feb 14, 1912	Wilmington Morning Star Feb 13, 1912	Robesonian Feb 12, 1912

The Caucasian (Clinton, NC) Feb 15, 1912	The Horry Herald Feb 15, 1912	The News Dispatch (Clinton) Feb 15, 1912

Postcard image from Hamlet, NC February 11, 1912 (Photo: UNC Chapel Hill)

November 28, 1912 Snow

To round out the snowiest calendar year on record at both Wilmington and Lumberton, a quick moving 1005mb low pressure off the coast led to 1-2" of snowfall across southeast NC and northeast SC. 1 to 2 inches of snow fell across most of South Carolina, including one inch in Florence, Conway, and Kingstree. 1 to 2 inches fell across southeastern North Carolina, with a max of 2.5" of snow in Elizabethtown, NC. 2 to 4 inches of snow was recorded in the Raleigh area.

Research & Page Author: Victoria Oliva
Page Last Updated: November 4, 2024