Another Arctic blast likely to bring snow and sleet to Raleigh, central NC. Here’s when
NOTE: Please read an updated story published Tuesday, Feb. 18.
A front that sent a half-inch of rain to Raleigh over the weekend and left thousands of people without power statewide will be followed by Arctic air that’s expected to linger over North Carolina through the week.
With a Gulf storm on the way, that sets up the possibility of snow, sleet or freezing rain across much of the state midweek.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Triangle and most of Eastern North Carolina for Wednesday morning through Thursday morning. Forecasters say the severity of the storm will depend on how it tracks but that “heavy mixed precipitation” is likely, with anywhere from one to six inches of sleet and snow possible.
Here’s what forecasters know now.
Another Arctic blast
Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 17 and 18, will be at least 5 degrees cooler than average for this time of year across the region, with highs in the upper 40s to around 50 degrees.
Wednesday, Feb. 19 through Friday, Feb. 21, will be much colder, with highs in the 30s.
Next, the possibility of wintry precipitation
Meanwhile, a low-pressure system should move out of the Gulf and toward the East Coast, adding moisture to the mix, the Weather Service says.
The track of the storm will determine what parts of the region get what type of precipitation, forecasters say. If it passes farther to the south, we’ll see more snow in the Raleigh area. If it comes farther north, we’ll get more of the mixture that includes rain, sleet and freezing rain.
Major impacts from the storm are most likely in areas along and north of Interstate 85 and near the Virginia border, forecasters said. Areas along and south of U.S. 64 could see up to two-tenths of an inch of ice accumulation, the Weather Service said Monday afternoon.
Wednesday is the day to watch for snow
As of Monday afternoon, Feb. 17, the forecast for Raleigh shows a chance of snow starting before 10 a.m. Wednesday, possibly mixed with rain, freezing rain, and sleet between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The chance of precipitation is near 100% during the day, the Weather Service says, and 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet could accumulate.
There may be a break in the precipitation before it resumes Wednesday night, with snow and freezing rain likely before 4 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. Chance of precipitation in Raleigh overnight Wednesday is 70%, with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.
The forecast is similar for Durham and Chapel Hill, except snow might end a bit earlier Wednesday, the Weather Service says.
The forecast for Thursday is sunny and clear but cold, with temperatures just getting above freezing.
State Department of Transportation crews were spreading salt brine on Interstate 40 east of Raleigh on Monday afternoon, Feb. 17.
This story was originally published February 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
