Morehead City, North Carolina – A sharp winter chill is arriving across eastern North Carolina tonight as a much colder air mass pours in behind a strong cold front, sending temperatures plunging by daybreak.
Evening temperatures will fall quickly after sunset, dropping from the 60s into the 30s overnight. Lows around Morehead City are expected to settle near 32 to 33 degrees, while nearby coastal communities including Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, and Ocracoke hold slightly warmer in the mid to upper 30s. Inland areas will feel the coldest conditions. Greenville is expected to dip near 27 degrees, Kinston around 28, Jacksonville near 31, and Plymouth close to 28 degrees. According to the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City, some northern inland locations could briefly reach 25 degrees before sunrise.
The coldest window will occur just before dawn Tuesday, when winds ease and skies partially clear, allowing temperatures to bottom out. Frost and freezing conditions are likely inland, creating a risk for tender vegetation, exposed pipes, and outdoor pets. According to forecasters, the sudden temperature drop may catch some residents off guard after the mild afternoon.
Travel impacts should be minimal, but drivers are urged to watch for isolated slick spots on bridges and elevated roadways, especially north of Highway 70 and west of U.S. 17. Emergency managers recommend checking on elderly neighbors and bringing pets indoors overnight.
Despite the cold start, sunshine returns Tuesday with afternoon highs rebounding into the upper 40s and low 50s. According to the National Weather Service, this cold snap marks a more seasonable winter pattern settling into eastern North Carolina for the remainder of the week.
