Posted in North Carolina August 16, 2018 by

You Might Not Like These Predictions About North Carolina’s Cold And Damp Upcoming Winter

It’s a little earlier than usual, but the folks over at Farmer’s Almanac have released their predictions for the upcoming year and, depending on whether you like snow or not, you may not like what’s in store for North Carolina this winter.

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In the Western part of the state, you may want to brace yourself for a wetter than normal winter with temperatures slightly above normal.
Flickr/Tracey Rabjohns
Fewer days with utterly frigid temps are in store from a slightly warmer upcoming winter that is expected to have more precipitation. If you're concerned about snow, the mountains aren't in the clear, and in fact, there may be some more winter drama than usual. Although temps may not be falling so far down, you can still expect days when the temperatures are normal or below normal. Combine those lower than normal temps with above average precipitation and the result will be more snow than usual.
In the mountains of Western North Carolina the snow is expected start falling on the regular by mid-December.
Flickr/frumpyfairy
The Almanac predicts the coldest and snowiest periods will be in mid-December, early January and early February, with a slight warming trend at the ends of January and February. Will the mountains see a white Christmas? That remains to be seen, but early indications are positive.
The Piedmont and the Coastal regions have a slightly different winter experience ahead in the coming year.
Flickir/Orlando Contreras López
From the foothills all the way to the coast, the upcoming winter is expected to be slightly warmer than normal, with below average precipitation. That may sound promising, but it doesn't completely wipe out your chances for some epic snow storms that blow in from up North.
That goes for you too, if you're over on the coast of North Carolina. You can expect less precipitation than normal with temps that are slightly less frigid.
Flickr/Zach Frailey
However, snow is still within the realm of a good possibility for the coastal region. The best chances for snow in the Piedmont and along the coast are in mid-December, and mid-March. The coldest days in both regions are expected to be mid-December, mid-to-late January, and mid-to-late February.

The upcoming winter in North Carolina may be a little less frigid than usual, but the higher elevations in the mountains are still in store for some relatively heavy snow at times. What’s your favorite season in the Tar Heel State? Do you prefer hot or cold weather?