Snow looks more likely next week in Raleigh, central NC forecast. Here’s when & where
NOTE: For the latest weather forecast, please check this story published on Monday.
Another rare snow day is looking more and more likely for central and southeastern North Carolina in the next few days.
The National Weather Service says a high pressure system will extend over much of the country starting Monday, affecting the East Coast Tuesday, Jan. 21 into Wednesday, Jan. 22.
With that system, most models say some snow is possible across most of the state. The models disagree on specifics, which is typical for a system that is still four to five days away, says NWS, but models consistently show precipitation — along with below freezing temps — extending over most of the central and southeastern portions of the state.
Here’s what to know.
When might we see some snow?
As of Saturday, Jan. 18, the National Weather Service seven-day forecast shows a 30% chance of snow starting Tuesday after 1 p.m. and increasing Tuesday night. A graphical forecast map on the National Weather Service site shows precipitation likely ending Wednesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service Saturday report: “There is rather good agreement now that Tuesday night will be the period with the greatest precipitation, and considering the cold temperatures that will be in place, the precipitation would be all snow.”
Some snow could linger Wednesday morning, says NWS, but it should be dry by Wednesday afternoon.
But wait, there’s more. The NWS Saturday report shows a chance of a “glancing blow” in the eastern half of NC on Thursday and Thursday night — possibly snow mixing with rain — but the forecasters there said they “won’t get too cute with details for now.”
What are the chances the Raleigh area will see snow?
As of Saturday, Jan. 18, the National Weather Service seven-day forecast gives Raleigh a 30% chance of frozen precip Tuesday afternoon, with a 50% chance Tuesday night.
A graphical forecast map shows ranges of 52% in the Raleigh area Tuesday night to 54% in Sanford, 57% in Rocky Mount, 61% in Fayetteville and 71% farther south in Wilmington.
Where will it snow, according to the forecast?
The National Weather Service says it’s leaning into an ensemble of models showing a chance of frozen precipitation across most of the state, but more likely in central and southeastern North Carolina. This means that areas “generally along and east of the US-1 corridor” have the best chance of snow, with areas to the west of US-1 having a slightly lower chance. US-1 roughly runs through the center of Wake County.
How cold will it be next week?
The NWS seven-day forecast and graphical forecast map, as of Saturday, Jan. 18, show that high temperatures in the Triangle next week are not expected to be much above freezing until Thursday and Friday. The weekend won’t be bad at all, though.
- We’ll see rain here and there on Saturday but the high will be around 56 degrees, with a low of 43.
- Sunday, a little more rain (likely ending by 1 p.m.) with a high near 57 degrees. Temps will drop quickly to give us a low around 23. Wind chill values Sunday night will feel like 15.
- Monday, which is MLK Day, will be sunny and breezy with a high near 33 degrees and lows that night around 15.
- On Tuesday, the high will reach around 31 degrees with lows around 16 that night.
- On Wednesday, we’ll have a high near 31 degrees with a low around 14 that night.
- Thursday could get up to a balmy 36 degrees with a low around 22.
- Friday looks to be partly sunny with a high around 42.
This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 10:59 AM.
