{"id":29,"date":"2020-12-14T13:18:53","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T18:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/?page_id=29"},"modified":"2026-11-10T09:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T14:35:44","slug":"winter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Weather"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide wp-block-paragraph\">North Carolina winter weather consists of storms that produce snow, sleet, freezing rain or a wintry mix of multiple precipitation types. It is not uncommon to experience every mode of wintry precipitation in any given storm, due to the nature and atmospheric conditions that are commonly found in NC winter storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"alignwide wp-block-paragraph\">Along with wintry precipitation, NC winter weather also includes outbreaks of bitterly cold, Arctic air that can send overnight lows well into the teens and even single digits! Across North Carolina, monthly average temperatures are the coldest in January. Learn more about winter weather types and events in North Carolina in the state by visiting our Winter Storms Database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Information<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-two-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n             <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\">\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/patterns\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1217\"\n            alt=\"A photo of snow on Appalachian State&#039;s campus in Boone in January 2022\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Boone_snow_Jan2022-1024x683-1.jpeg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Boone_snow_Jan2022-1024x683-1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Boone_snow_Jan2022-1024x683-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Boone_snow_Jan2022-1024x683-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Winter Weather Overview<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Discover the atmospheric ingredients for wintry weather in North Carolina<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/patterns\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"554\" height=\"555\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1189\"\n            alt=\"A diagram of a blocking high pressure system over Greenland and its influence on the northern hemisphere jet stream pattern\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/blocking_high_Greenland.png\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/blocking_high_Greenland.png 554w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/blocking_high_Greenland-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/blocking_high_Greenland-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 554px) 100vw, 554px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Large-Scale Winter Patterns<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Discover the atmospheric ingredients for wintry weather in North Carolina<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/types\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1209\"\n            alt=\"A photo of snow falling on a dock in Wilmington in January 2009\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Wilmington_snow_Jan2009-1024x679-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Wilmington_snow_Jan2009-1024x679-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Wilmington_snow_Jan2009-1024x679-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/Wilmington_snow_Jan2009-1024x679-1-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Wintry Precipitation<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Learn more about different precipitation types and our wintry event frequencies<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/notable-winter-storms\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1213\"\n            alt=\"A photo of snow at East Carolina University in March 1980\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/ECU_snow_Mar1980-1024x681-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/ECU_snow_Mar1980-1024x681-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/ECU_snow_Mar1980-1024x681-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/ECU_snow_Mar1980-1024x681-1-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Notable Winter Storms<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">Explore some of North Carolina\u2019s most significant snow and ice events over the past 50 years<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/winter\/climate-change\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"746\" height=\"488\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1183\"\n            alt=\"Maps showing the projected changes in the average number of cold nights per year in North Carolina\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/NCCSR_proj_coldnights.png\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/NCCSR_proj_coldnights.png 746w, https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/NCCSR_proj_coldnights-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Climate Change and Winter Weather<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">See trends in our winter weather conditions and future projections for temperatures and snowfall<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/products\/weather\/winter\/latest-snow-events\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-11332\"\n            alt=\"A map of the last snow events totaling at least 12 inches across North Carolina, as of mid-March 2026\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/latest_12inch_spring2026.png\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Latest Snow Events<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">Maps showing the most recent snow events totaling 1 inch, 6 inches, and 12 inches across North Carolina<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data and Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n             <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        <div class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\">\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/products.climate.ncsu.edu\/weather\/winter_storm_db\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-1223\"\n            alt=\"https:\/\/products2.climate.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/wsdb_thumbnail-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/products2.climate.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/wsdb_thumbnail-350x350.png 350w\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/wsdb_thumbnail-150x150-1.png\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n          \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Winter Storm Database<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><em>Our archive of winter storm events in North Carolina since 1959, featuring weather data and event summaries<\/em><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Read more<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Carolina winter weather consists of storms that produce snow, sleet, freezing rain or a wintry mix of multiple precipitation types. It is not uncommon to experience every mode of wintry precipitation in any given storm, due to the nature and atmospheric conditions that are commonly found in NC winter storms. Along with wintry precipitation,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"coauthors":[4],"class_list":["post-29","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1313,"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29\/revisions\/1313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climate.ncsu.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}