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Winter Outlook for 2022-23: La Niña Lives On

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A photo of daffodils blooming in Chapel Hill on January 30.

Feb 1, 2024

Drought Disappears as January Stays Wet in the West

Warm temperatures dominated January, as did wet weather in western North Carolina, which brought our ongoing drought to an end. Mild Weather for a Winter Month Mostly warm weather, interrupted by a mid-month chill, left our overall temperatures above normal in January. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) notes a preliminary statewide average temperature…
A photo of cloudy skies in Weaverville on December 29

Jan 3, 2024

Winter Gets a Warm, Wet Start in December

Fall-like temperatures carried over into December, but our fall drought faded as wetter weather emerged last month. A few areas also picked up snow, but most of the state finished 2023 with no accumulations. Warm Throughout December The calendar said it was December, but it rarely felt like winter thanks to prevailing warmth last month.…
A map of global sea surface temperature anomalies in October 2023

Nov 15, 2023

Winter Outlook 2023-24: Awaiting Wetter Weather With El Niño’s Return

Following a snow-free year in many areas and with drought now gripping more than half of the state, a pattern change – both from what we’ve seen in recent winters and in recent weeks – would be welcome. So could the newly emerging El Niño be the answer? In our twelfth annual winter outlook, we’ll…
A map of total snowfall in North Carolina from November 2022 through March 2023.

Mar 24, 2023

Winter Recap 2022-23: Snow is Scarce, Blooms Come Early

A few cold days before Christmas were the only taste of winter many areas felt all season, as warm and often spring-like weather dominated the season overall in North Carolina. In this look back on the winter that wasn’t, we review the seasonal rankings and snowfall totals, revisit our winter outlook, and look ahead to…
A photo of flowers blooming from February 23

Mar 2, 2023

February Springs Forward with Unseasonable Warmth

Month-long warmth in February set local temperature records, but the weather cooperated for a night of outdoor hockey. Meanwhile, early-month rains washed away drought in North Carolina. We also preview winter’s potential return in March. A Spring Sensation Persistent and unprecedented warmth in the past month made it one of our warmest Februarys ever. According…
A photo of a Japanese apricot tree in bloom in Chapel Hill this January

Feb 7, 2023

A Warm, Wet January Keeps Many Snowless this Winter

Regular rainfall made January a wet month, including in drought-affected eastern North Carolina, while above-normal temperatures dominated our weather. With little to no snow so far, we examine the odds the winter will finish that way. A Shifting Precipitation Pattern From west to east, precipitation had the state covered in January, which was wetter than…
A photo of snow on the ground in Valle Crucis, NC, on December 26.

Jan 5, 2023

A Christmas Chill Decked December’s Halls

December’s temperatures were marked by a big cooldown just in time for Christmas. Rain throughout the month lifted the Mountains out of drought. And a new tool feature helps us put the past month in perspective. Temperatures Tumble for the Holidays After a warm start to December, our temperatures came crashing down during a Christmastime…
A photo of fire crews working in smoky conditions at the Hurricane Ridge wildfire

Dec 6, 2022

November’s Weather Buffet Spanned Warm to Wet, Chilled to Charred

This November, Mother Nature was an accommodating hostess, serving up weather both hot and frozen, with entrées moist and filling, or burnt to a crisp. Plus, we reminisce about recent months in our fall recap. A Warm Exterior Sandwiches a Chilly Center Several strings of deceptively warm days boosted this November in our historical temperature…
A map of global sea surface temperature anomalies from October 2022

Nov 17, 2022

Winter Outlook for 2022-23: La Niña Lives On

A persistent Pacific pattern is back again, putting us in line for a rare triple-dip La Niña this winter. But with each of the past two winters playing out very differently in North Carolina, what can we expect this year? In our eleventh annual winter outlook, we’ll examine the current ENSO conditions, the rarity of…