Raleigh, North Carolina – A sustained stretch of colder-than-normal weather is expected to take hold across North Carolina from Friday through early the following week, bringing widespread freezing conditions inland and unusually cold temperatures even along the coast, with limited chances for rain or snow.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14-day outlook for Jan. 30 through Feb. 5 places North Carolina within a high-confidence zone for below-normal temperatures. Much of the state falls in an 80 to 100 percent probability range for colder-than-average conditions as a large-scale cold pattern remains entrenched across the eastern United States, centered in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.
High temperatures across Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, and Fayetteville are expected to run several degrees below seasonal averages, while overnight lows regularly drop below freezing away from the immediate coast. Even coastal communities such as Wilmington and the Outer Banks are likely to experience colder-than-normal conditions, with chilly nights and brisk daytime temperatures. The cold air mass stretches from New England south through the Carolinas into Florida and extends west into Ohio and Mississippi.
Precipitation during this period is expected to trend below normal across most of North Carolina. The outlook favors a drier-than-average pattern from the Northeast through the Southeast, limiting the potential for widespread rain or wintry precipitation. While a brief light rain, flurry, or coastal system cannot be ruled out, the overall setup does not support frequent or impactful storms.
Above-normal precipitation chances are focused mainly across Texas, Florida, and the Pacific Northwest, while near-normal precipitation is expected across parts of the southern Deep South and central Plains.
North Carolina residents should prepare for an extended period of winter cold, take steps to protect pipes and sensitive plants, and remain cautious of icy conditions during early morning and overnight travel, especially across inland and higher elevation areas. Additional outlook updates may follow as the period approaches and confidence in localized impacts increases.
