Weather
North Carolina Snow Records: What Winter 2026-27 Could Bring
Raleigh, NC – North Carolina has experienced winter storms capable of dropping three feet of snow in a single day, with significant accumulations recorded from the Blue Ridge Mountains to communities
By Grant Holloway · 2026-10-21T12:41:50.689Z
Raleigh, NC – North Carolina has experienced winter storms capable of dropping three feet of snow in a single day, with significant accumulations recorded from the Blue Ridge Mountains to communities in eastern portions of the state. As winter 2026 27 approaches, those records demonstrate why even relatively mild winters can still produce dangerous snowfall.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Mount Mitchell in Yancey County recorded 36 inches of snow March 13, 1993, the highest one day measurement in the supplied North Carolina county records. Other major snowfall events have affected mountain communities, the Piedmont and coastal regions.
North Carolina's 10 Biggest Distinct Single Day Snowfall Records The following list identifies the highest reported measurements from distinct dates in NOAA's supplied county level records. Multiple county observations from the same storm are grouped together.
1. March 13, 1993: Mount Mitchell, Yancey County — 36.0 inches . Water Valley in Haywood County recorded 21 inches. 2. March 2, 1927: Goldsboro, Wayne County — 26.0 inches . Several eastern North Carolina counties recorded significant snowfall during the same event. 3. March 13, 1989: Cowee, Macon County — 25.5 inches 4. March 2, 1927: Fayetteville, Cumberland County — 24.0 inches same broader storm as No. 2 5. Jan. 17, 1996: Transou, Ashe County — 24.0 inches 6. March 12, 1899: Asheboro, Randolph County — 24.0 inches 7. Feb. 1, 2026: Stella, Carteret County — 23.5 inches 8. Jan. 28, 1922: Henderson, Vance County — 22.5 inches 9. March 2, 1927: Duplin County — 22.0 inches same broader storm as No. 2 10. March 13, 1993: Hendersonville, Henderson County — 22.0 inches same storm as No. 1 Why North Carolina's Snowfall History Matters North Carolina's geography creates dramatically different winter weather risks across the state.
Higher elevations in the Blue Ridge Mountains can receive substantial snowfall when moisture rich air rises across mountainous terrain. Meanwhile, powerful coastal storms can occasionally produce significant accumulations across Raleigh, Fayetteville, Wilmington and eastern North Carolina.
The March 1993 Storm of the Century demonstrated how intense winter weather can affect the Appalachian region, while historical records from eastern North Carolina show that significant snowfall is not limited to mountain communities.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? El Niño can influence winter temperatures, precipitation and storm tracks across the southeastern United States. In some winters, these patterns can favor increased storm activity across the southern states.
However, El Niño does not guarantee snowfall.
Temperatures must remain sufficiently cold for precipitation to fall as snow, and individual storm tracks determine where the heaviest accumulations occur.
Historical records cannot predict whether winter 2026 27 will bring another record breaking snowstorm. They demonstrate that a single powerful weather system can still create dangerous conditions even during an otherwise mild winter.
For North Carolina residents, the lesson is clear: One major storm can deliver extraordinary snowfall, regardless of the season's overall temperature trend