Raleigh, North Carolina — A high-impact winter storm is expected to bring significant snowfall, damaging winds, and dangerous travel conditions across much of North Carolina and South Carolina beginning late Saturday and continuing into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.
A rapidly strengthening coastal storm will track just offshore of the Carolinas, pulling deep moisture into an entrenched Arctic air mass. This setup is expected to produce widespread heavy snow, particularly across central and eastern North Carolina, with forecast totals ranging from 6 to 12 inches, and locally higher amounts possible. Portions of northern South Carolina, especially near the North Carolina border, could also see impactful accumulations.
Snow is expected to develop Saturday afternoon and intensify Saturday night as winds increase. Blowing and drifting snow may lead to near-blizzard conditions, especially in open areas and along coastal and inland corridors. Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly along major routes including I-40 from Raleigh to Wilmington, I-85 near Greensboro and Durham, I-77 north of Charlotte, and US-17 along the coast.
By early Sunday, strong northerly winds could gust high enough to cause power outages, particularly where snow accumulates on trees and power lines. Visibility may drop to near zero at times, making travel extremely hazardous or impossible during peak conditions.
Behind the storm, record cold air will settle across the Carolinas. Wind chills are expected to fall near or below zero, raising the risk of frostbite and hypothermia and complicating recovery efforts where power outages occur.
Residents are urged to complete preparations before Saturday, avoid travel during the height of the storm, and closely monitor official updates. This system has the potential to become one of the most disruptive winter storms of the season for the Carolinas.
