Raleigh, North Carolina – A sharp shift to much drier air is sweeping across central North Carolina this afternoon, setting the stage for a cold night with temperatures dropping into the 20s by daybreak.
Behind a passing front, dewpoints have plunged across the western and central Piedmont, signaling very dry air moving east. Afternoon humidity levels have fallen low enough to prompt elevated fire danger west of Raleigh, where gusty winds and dry fuels remain a concern through early evening. According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, Red Flag conditions continue until around 7 p.m. before winds ease and humidity slowly recovers overnight.
As the dry air mass settles in, temperatures will fall quickly after sunset. Lows around Raleigh are expected to bottom out near 28 to 30 degrees. Colder readings are likely across the Triad and northern Piedmont, where Greensboro and Roxboro could dip into the mid-20s. Even eastern communities, including Goldsboro and Rocky Mount, are expected to fall into the upper 20s by early Tuesday morning.
The coldest window will occur just before sunrise, when clear skies and calm winds allow temperatures to drop efficiently. According to the National Weather Service, widespread frost and freezing conditions are expected across much of central North Carolina, posing a risk to tender vegetation, exposed pipes, and outdoor pets.
While fire danger diminishes overnight as winds relax, residents are urged to use caution with outdoor burning and properly dispose of smoking materials this evening. Tuesday will start cold but sunny, with afternoon highs rebounding into the upper 40s and low 50s.
