Hard freeze expected in the Triangle before potential snow. Latest forecast
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- Arctic air will seep into the Triangle this week, with gusty winds making it feel colder.
- Forecast calls for light precipitation Sunday, but temperatures will stay above freezing.
- Snowfall totals are still undetermined, as forecasts are expected to change.
Update: For the latest forecast, click here.
Arctic air will move into the Triangle ahead of a potential snow event over the weekend.
The chances for accumulating snow have increased, according to the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office, but the forecast is likely to change leading up to the event.
On Thursday, Jan. 15, high temperatures are expected to reach the upper 30s in the Triangle, with winds gusting up to 20-30 mph, making it feel colder.
Friday, Jan. 16 is also expected to be cold, with temperatures below normal.
A relief in the frigid weather could come Saturday, Jan. 17, along with a slight chance of light rain in the north. Daytime high temperatures in the lower-50s to lower-60s are expected Saturday.
Snow chances on Sunday
Saturday night, a cold front will move through the area, and light snow and/or rain across central North Carolina could result.
Forecasters are uncertain about the type of precipitation because it depends on the temperature of the cold air and timing of when it reaches the area, National Weather Service meteorologist Nicholas Petro said during a briefing Thursday morning.
The precipitation is expected to come Sunday, Jan. 18 during the day, which doesn’t help the chances for snow accumulation, Petro said. Temperatures in the Triangle are expected to be above freezing throughout the precipitation event.
Plus, the precipitation should be light, Petro said. If it all came as rain, the total rainfall amount Sunday would be around a quarter-inch or less in the Triangle.
Increased fire danger today in the Triangle
Any precipitation would be welcome, however, because of the ongoing drought across central North Carolina. Wake, Durham, Chatham, Orange and Johnston counties are all in a “severe drought.”
With the low relative humidity, ongoing dry fuels and gusty winds, the Triangle is under an increased fire danger Thursday, even though temperatures are colder.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 12:56 PM.
