Raleigh, North Carolina – A sharp surge of winter cold will spread across central North Carolina Sunday evening, setting the stage for dangerously cold wind chills and a frigid start to the workweek. Conditions turn harsh quickly after sunset, with the coldest air arriving overnight into early Monday.
Wind chills are expected to fall into the single digits across much of the region, with values ranging from around 3 to 10 degrees by daybreak Monday. The cold will be widespread, affecting the Triangle, Triad, Sandhills, and Coastal Plain. The most impactful window runs from late Sunday night through the Monday morning commute, when even brief outdoor exposure could become dangerous without proper clothing.
According to the National Weather Service office in Raleigh, a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday for all of central North Carolina. Counties included span Wake, Durham, Orange, Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Johnston, Harnett, Cumberland, Wayne, Wilson, Nash, and surrounding areas. Cities impacted include Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Sanford, and Southern Pines.
Travelers along I-40, I-85, I-95, U.S. 1, and U.S. 64 should prepare for a bitterly cold commute Monday morning, especially at bus stops and park-and-ride locations. According to emergency management officials, residents should wear layered clothing, hats, and gloves, and limit prolonged outdoor activity. Children waiting for school transportation should be especially well protected.
This cold snap will also stress pets, people, and plumbing. Pets should be kept indoors, outdoor animals provided with warm shelter and unfrozen water, and exposed pipes protected before Sunday evening. Residents using space heaters are urged to follow safety guidelines and keep heaters away from flammable materials. Neighbors who are elderly or without reliable heat should be checked on before the coldest air arrives.
