Snow, freezing rain & sleet likely in the Triangle this weekend. New forecast
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- National Weather Service warns central NC faces wintry precipitation this weekend.
- Storm will likely occur Saturday into Sunday; forecasters may refine timing.
- Officials urge residents to winterize homes and avoid travel during storm.
Read the latest story from Friday, Jan. 23: Winter storm coming to the Raleigh area. When to expect sleet & freezing rain
Most or all of central North Carolina, including the Triangle, is likely to get wintry precipitation this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The amounts of precipitation and where it will fall is still unknown, Brandon Dunstan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Raleigh, told The News & Observer on Wednesday morning, Jan. 21.
“It’s a little too far out to tell you, OK, we know how much snow is going to occur,” Dunstan said. “We just know we’re going to have a very good potential for some impacts from a winter storm this weekend. When I say impacts, we’re going to have some potential for snow, freezing rain and sleet across the area.”
In a Wednesday afternoon briefing, the National Weather Service said models are showing a larger area with mostly mixed ice and sleet, rather than only snow.
Meteorologists expect that there will be plenty of cold air and moisture in place for precipitation to form, including heavy amounts of precipitation.
As the weekend approaches, meteorologists will begin to have more certainty about accumulation and timing, Dunstan said.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch, in effect Saturday afternoon, Jan. 24 through Monday afternoon, Jan. 26. The watch covers Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston and Chatham counties, along with others across the Piedmont and portions of the central and northern Coastal Plain.
How cold will it be?
The forecast calls for dangerous cold temperatures during and after the storm, which would make it harder for precipitation to melt.
Here’s how cold it will be in the Triangle this weekend and into next week:
- Saturday, Jan. 24: high temperatures in the 20s
- Saturday night: temperatures will dip into the teens
- Sunday, Jan. 25: high temperatures in the 20s
- Sunday night: low temperatures in the teens
- Monday, Jan. 26: high temperatures in the low 30s
- Monday night: low temperatures in the single digits
When to expect snow or ice
The storm is expected to last between Saturday morning and Sunday evening, though the timing could change in coming days. Precipitation could begin to move into central North Carolina as early as Friday night, Jan. 23, Dunstan said.
Potential impacts from the winter storm
Travel could be dangerous, so the National Weather Service is encouraging people to be prepared to stay home this weekend and maybe early next week.
Residents should make sure they have emergency supplies for their home and car — including non-perishable food, water, warm clothing and blankets and rock salt or environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways.
Power outages are possible during winter storms. In a Wednesday afternoon briefing, the National Weather Service said ice accumulation could bring down tree branches or whole trees, which could fall on power lines. Most if not all of central North Carolina could be affected by outages, particularly from late Saturday through Sunday night.
Have a good supply of heating fuel and dry, seasoned wood for fireplaces. Do not use a camp stove or charcoal grill indoors for heating or cooking.
North Carolina Emergency Management also recommends people winterize their home. Fix roof leaks, clear rain gutters, insulate pipes, allow faucets to drip, and cut away tree branches that could fall on structures during the storm.
“People need to be prepared for not only the winter weather, but the cold, the bitterly cold temperatures, especially as the system moves to the east of the area early next week,” Dunstan said.
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 8:06 AM.
