By Josh Lanier



It was the first “White Christmas” since the Harry Truman administration, and the forecasted flakes didn’t disappoint this holiday season. The National Weather Service estimated the Lake Norman area received about 4.5 inches of snow Christmas night and into the following morning.

The last time more than an inch of snow fell on Christmas, the Weather Service’s guidelines for a “White Christmas,” was 1947 when 5.8 inches fell.
“If I remember correctly, that snowstorm (1947) caught us by surprise,” Gene Ervin said. “It was a gift.”

Ervin, 70, of Cornelius, should know. He’s Santa, or is at least the Bearded One’s Lake Norman liaison for area Christmas parades and events.
Ervin remembers waking up early that Christmas morning to open presents and then rushing outside of his Mooresville home with his cousin to play in the snow.

“We had a ball out there,” he said.

This Christmas, Ervin watched out his window as his grandsons, Waylan, 24, and Travis, 19, had a snowball fight in the front yard.

“It doesn’t happen that often, so it’s always so nice to see the kids get out and play in it,” he said.

He believes people are more uptight now about bad weather than they used to be as constant news reports and fear abound whenever snow is forecast.

“Sometimes,” he said, “it’s just nice to sit back and enjoy what the Good Lord has given you.”

Want to share your snow photos?

The flurries sent droves of area residents to their yards to build frosty friend or snowy structures. Here are some photos from the area sent in by our readers.

Send in your snow photos to news@huntersvilleherald.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/heraldweekly to add to our slide show.