North Carolina weather: Historic snow moves out as extreme cold lingers

North Carolina woke up Sunday to a rare and disruptive mix: deep, wind-driven snow in places that don’t often see it, followed by a sharp plunge in temperatures that will keep roads icy and recovery slow. Even as the storm center pulls offshore, the cold air behind it is locking in dangerous wind chills in the mountains and keeping travel difficult across parts of the Piedmont and coastal plain.

By late morning Sunday (Feb. 1, ET), readings were still in the 20s in several major cities, with single-digit lows expected tonight in some areas and warnings continuing into Monday morning along the coast.

North Carolina weather: Where the cold is worst

Temperatures remain far below seasonal levels statewide today, with the harshest conditions in the mountains and in areas still buried under fresh snow. Federal forecasters have highlighted life-threatening wind chills in portions of western North Carolina through early afternoon Sunday, while coastal counties remain under an extreme-cold warning into Monday morning.

As of late morning Sunday (ET), these snapshots show how sharply conditions vary across the state:

In the mountain counties under the strongest headline alerts, wind chills can reach dangerous levels quickly—especially above 3,000 feet—where brisk northwest winds are also capable of downing limbs and triggering isolated power issues.

Snow-packed roads and slow recovery

The bigger statewide concern through Sunday night is not just the cold—it’s what the cold does to everything left behind. Fresh snow compresses into slick ruts, and any daytime melting refreezes fast after sunset. State transportation crews continue plowing and treating primary routes, while officials keep urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel where snow and ice remain on pavement.

The overnight lows are a major reason: Charlotte is forecast to drop to around 4°F tonight, Greensboro to around 6°F, and Asheville to around 3°F. Even in places where the sky turns sunny, the angle of the sun and the frigid air mass will slow melting and keep shaded bridges, overpasses, and secondary roads hazardous.

A separate safety issue is visibility. When winds pick up across open stretches—especially in the foothills and higher ridges—powder can blow back across lanes, briefly reducing sightlines and masking icy patches.

Coast and southeast: snow totals, wind chills, and ice risk

The coastal plain is dealing with its own version of the problem: heavy snow, wind, and unusually low wind chills for the region. Around Wilmington, forecasts call for a storm total snowfall in the 6–10 inch range, with roads remaining snow-packed and slippery Sunday. An extreme-cold warning continues into Monday morning, and the combination of wind and temperature can make even quick outdoor tasks risky.

The forward concern near the coast is what happens as temperatures rebound midweek: melting snow can flood low spots, then refreeze if another cold push arrives. That matters in neighborhoods that don’t drain well and on roads where plows can’t fully clear the shoulder.

Midweek warm-up, then a renewed chill

The pattern shifts after Monday: highs climb into the 40s across the Piedmont and near 50 along the coast by Tuesday. A few showers are possible Wednesday, which may help clear remaining snowpack in some places but can also create new slick spots if temperatures dip back below freezing overnight.

By Thursday, forecasts show another cooldown behind the midweek system. Wilmington, for example, may see colder air return with a chance of mixed precipitation early Thursday, while interior cities trend back toward lower 40s with chilly nights. The practical message for the second half of the week: expect a thaw-and-refreeze cycle that can keep isolated slick spots lingering long after the main storm ends.

What to watch through Monday morning

The most time-sensitive risks are concentrated in two windows: Sunday afternoon in the mountains (where wind chills and wind gusts are most intense) and overnight Sunday into Monday morning statewide (when temperatures bottom out and refreezing peaks). Pipes, pets, and people are all more vulnerable during that overnight period, particularly in areas with prolonged power interruptions or limited access to treated roads.

For travelers, the safest assumption is that any untreated surface may be icy after dark—even if a road looks dry at a glance—and that conditions can vary sharply from one neighborhood to the next depending on elevation, shade, and snow depth.

Sources consulted: National Weather Service, N.C. Department of Transportation, Office of Governor Josh Stein, The Washington Post