North Carolina – Windshields glaze over before sunrise, and sidewalks shine with a thin, dangerous coat of ice. The cold air bites early, and conditions remain hazardous as freezing rain continues to affect central North Carolina.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for much of the central Piedmont through early afternoon. Periods of freezing rain are producing ice accumulations up to three-tenths of an inch in spots, enough to weigh down tree limbs and power lines. Travel is already treacherous, especially on bridges and secondary roads.
Across Raleigh, wet pavement has turned slick in neighborhoods from North Hills to Southeast Raleigh. Traffic slows along I-40, I-440, and U.S. 1 as crews respond to icy stretches. In surrounding counties, including Wake, Johnston, and Franklin, the risk of isolated power outages increases as ice builds on exposed surfaces. Drivers should plan extra time and avoid unnecessary trips this morning.
As the storm exits, colder air pours in behind it. Temperatures drop sharply tonight and remain well below freezing into midweek. Any melting during daylight hours may refreeze quickly after sunset, raising the risk of flash freezing and renewed slick spots by Wednesday morning.
Later in the week, skies trend brighter, but the chill lingers through Friday. Looking ahead, 6–10 day outlooks suggest drier conditions settling in across the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas, while much warmer, potentially record-setting temperatures build farther south into Florida and Georgia.
Five-Day Outlook for Raleigh, NC
• Today: Freezing rain early, then clouds, high near 39°F
• Tuesday: Sunny but cold, high near 37°F
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 38°F
• Thursday: Sunny, high near 35°F
• Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 31°F
