Charlotte, NC – A colder and more active weather pattern is expected across North Carolina from Nov. 29th through Dec. 5th, bringing a mix of cold rain, wintry precipitation, and early-season snow to parts of the state as December begins.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, temperatures throughout this period are projected to run below normal statewide, including urban areas like Charlotte and Raleigh, the Piedmont and Foothills, and the colder, higher-elevation regions of Boone, Asheville, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Overnight lows in the mountains may drop below freezing, increasing the likelihood of snow when passing disturbances arrive.
NOAA’s precipitation outlook also shows a strong signal for above-normal precipitation, suggesting several systems may track across the Carolinas through the first week of December. Charlotte and much of the Piedmont are most likely to experience cold rain, though brief mixing could occur during colder morning or nighttime hours.
Western North Carolina — including the Blue Ridge, High Country, and communities along I-40 and I-26 — holds the highest probability for accumulating snow, especially at elevations above 3,000 feet. Some areas may see multiple rounds of light-to-moderate snowfall depending on storm timing.
Meanwhile, eastern North Carolina — from Fayetteville to Greenville to Wilmington — is expected to remain mostly rainy, with very limited mixing potential.
Forecasters note that this pattern does not point to one major winter storm but rather a series of smaller disturbances capable of producing slick roads, reduced visibility, and periodic travel delays, particularly in the mountains and Foothills.
Residents across North Carolina should monitor local forecasts closely as shifting temperatures determine how much rain or snow each region receives during the first week of December.
