Raleigh, NC – Thick, gray clouds drift across the Triangle as light rain taps rooftops and softens the morning air. Streets shine with a thin glaze, and the damp breeze carries the unmistakable feel of late November as Thanksgiving travel begins to intensify across North Carolina. Drivers on I-40 and I-440 should prepare for slower speeds and shifting visibility as the day turns wetter.
According to the National Weather Service Raleigh office, rain expands through the morning, steady at times, with totals potentially reaching a quarter inch by early Saturday. Patchy fog lingers in pockets from Cary to Garner. Travelers heading to RDU should expect periodic delays as cloud ceilings fluctuate. The agency notes that heavier showers and a few rumbles of thunder may form Saturday between late morning and mid-afternoon, especially north and east of the city.
According to meteorologists, temperatures remain unseasonably warm today and Saturday before a noticeable cool-down arrives Sunday. That warm-to-cool shift signals an early “Winter Tease,” even though no snow chance is expected locally. National guidance shows a larger pattern change building across the country, with colder air sweeping from the Northwest toward the East Coast next week. Several northern states may face heavy snow—anywhere from 3 to 15 inches—between November 25 and December 3, a potential trouble spot for long-distance Thanksgiving travel.
According to national outlooks, North Carolina trends cooler by midweek, though still far from freezing. For now, residents get a damp stretch followed by clearer skies on Sunday, ideal for pre-holiday errands, leaf cleanup, or early decorating before cooler winds and thicker clouds return ahead of Thanksgiving.
Five-Day Forecast for Raleigh, NC:
Fri: 65/60 – Rain likely; patchy fog; slow travel on I-40.
Sat: 75/48 – Showers and thunder chance midday; clearing late.
Sun: 63/40 – Sunny; cooler and breezy.
Mon: 66/46 – Sunny; pleasant travel.
Tue: 71/52 – Cloudy; late rain chance; cooler pattern ahead.
