CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A warm, breezy weekend across the Carolinas will end with a sudden, biting chill as the coldest air of the season sweeps south by Monday night. The pattern flip will bring temperatures tumbling into the 20s and low 30s—setting up a hard freeze that could mark the official end of the growing season for much of central North Carolina.
According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, mild conditions today will give way to a cooler, drier air mass late Sunday after a few passing showers and isolated thunderstorms. Any rain should clear by early afternoon, leaving partly sunny skies and temperatures near the mid-70s. But the real change arrives early Monday as a strong cold front dives through the region, ushering in northwest winds and a dramatic temperature drop of nearly 25 degrees in less than 24 hours.
Monday’s high will struggle to reach the low 50s, and by late evening, much of Wake, Johnston, and Chatham Counties could dip below freezing. Residents are urged to protect pipes, cover outdoor plants, and ensure pets have warm shelter. Agricultural operations should also prepare for a potential hard freeze event, particularly across rural counties from Lee to Granville.
Veterans Day brings sunshine and a crisp, seasonal chill, ideal for outdoor ceremonies but cold enough to require heavy jackets before dawn. With this front, central North Carolina joins the national trend of early-winter air spreading from the Plains to the East Coast—a clear signal that fall’s final chapter is now underway.
Five-Day Forecast for Raleigh, NC:
Sat: 74/58 – Mostly sunny; mild and breezy late.
Sun: 76/43 – Spotty storms early; clearing skies, cooler air arrives.
Mon: 51/31 – Sunny and brisk; first hard freeze likely late.
Tue (Veterans Day): 49/36 – Clear and cold; frost possible at sunrise.
Wed: 61/43 – Milder, bright; late-fall comfort returns.
