Snow is in the forecast this week. Here are the chances for central NC

Update: Read the latest forecast here.

There’s still a chance that some people in central North Carolina could see snow this week.

Rain is expected to move into the area overnight Thursday, Dec. 4 into Friday, Dec. 5, Chrissy Anderson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Raleigh, told The News & Observer in a phone call.

As people across central North Carolina wake up Friday morning, they’ll likely be greeted by a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet or even snow, Anderson said.

Areas north of Interstate 85, closer to the Virginia border, have the best chances of snow.

But at this point, meteorologists can’t rule out snow chances in the Triangle. Those chances, though, are lower.

Northern Wake and Chatham counties and much of Durham and Orange counties have no greater than a 10% chance of 1 inch of snowfall or more, according to the National Weather Service.

The wintry precipitation could make driving on Friday, especially in the morning, more dangerous, Anderson said. Drivers should give themselves extra time for the commute and extra space on the roads.

Wintry mix turns to rain

By mid-to-late Friday morning in many areas, the wintry mix will turn to rain. In more northern areas, the precipitation may not turn to rain until the afternoon.

High temperatures Friday in the northern Piedmont and Triad will be around 34 to 36, Anderson said. Along the U.S. 1 corridor, high temperatures will be in the high 30s up to 40. East of Interstate 95, it will be even warmer, with high temperatures between 40 and 45.

Precipitation may linger into Saturday, Anderson said. However, high temperatures across central North Carolina will be between 46 and 50.

How much will it snow in NC this winter?

Overall, meteorologists expect a warmer, drier winter in North Carolina.

La Niña is expected to continue into Northern Hemisphere winter, and that pattern is associated with warmer-than-average and drier-than-average winters in central North Carolina, The N&O previously reported. But La Niña will likely be weak, so its effects will be less significant, and there could still be colder, wetter periods over the next few months.

The state Climate Office is predicting below-normal snowfall totals this winter, but expects cold spells to come earlier in the season, with a warm up by February.

Average annual snowfall for the Triangle ranged between 2 inches and 6 inches from 1991-2020, according to the climate office.

This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Snow is in the forecast this week. Here are the chances for central NC."

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

919-419-6579

Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.