Though Western North Carolina has seen a few chilly days in mid-November, AccuWeather says it isn’t indicative of how winter will go this year.

Previous reporting from the Citizen Times shows that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agrees that winter 2024 might feel more like an extension of fall. There are multiple factors that could contribute to this warmth, from climate change to the presence of La Niña.

Here’s what AccuWeather forecasters are saying about snow and temperatures for N.C. and the Asheville area during the upcoming winter season.

Will there be snow in North Carolina, Asheville this year?

Though it’s impossible to tell in advance, many major meteorological organizations say it’s shaping up to be a particularly warm winter. With only one significant snow event recorded by the NC Climate Office in Buncombe County last winter, it may be a fair assumption to believe the area will at least receive very little snow.

When will the first snow in Asheville be?

AccuWeather’s long-range predictions place the first snowfall of the season several months away on Feb. 1, 2025, for the Asheville area. Temperature predictions for the same date are a high of 47 and low of 20 degrees.

The snow event recorded by the NC Climate Office in Buncombe County last winter began Jan. 18.

What is AccuWeather’s winter forecast for North Carolina?

This year, AccuWeather forecasts say that a combination of La Niña, above-average water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and mild Pacific air occasionally flowing into the Plains and East will mean a warmer than average winter for the Southern states.

Temperatures throughout the season could run more than 3 degrees above the historical average for most of the region. In total, only three days of the organization’s long-range predictions for the Asheville area (which currently span until Feb. 12) are predicted to have snow (or ice, sleet, etc.) this winter.

What is NOAA’s winter forecast for North Carolina? 

According to NOAA maps, average temperatures from November through January 2025 will have a 40%-60% chance of being higher than average for much of the state.

Average snowfall in NC, winter temperatures

Data for Asheville winters from the NOAA’s most recent 30-year normals includes:

• December – Average temperature 41.4 degrees, average snowfall 2.5 inches.
• January – Average temperature 38.7 degrees, average snowfall 3.6 inches.
• February – Average temperature 42.1 degrees, average snowfall 1.9 inches.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

MONTEREY — A 19-year-old woman from North Carolina was killed in a hit-and-run collision on State Route 1 on Sunday, according to a news release from the California Highway Patrol.

The woman was identified as Maddie Elizabeth Fletcher, a 19-year-old from Shelby, North Carolina, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 9:47 a.m., the Monterey Communication Center received a report of a crash, authorities said. Fletcher was driving a black Honda Civic in the first lane northbound on SR-1 north of Munras Avenue. A vehicle had been driving in the second lane to the right side and behind Fletcher’s car when it veered into the first lane and hit the back of the Honda Civic, CHP said.

The Honda lost control and veered off the road, authorities said, where it then began to overturn before crashing into a tree. The car came to stop on its wheels facing south on a dirt embankment.

The car that hit Fletcher’s car, which was unidentified, fled the scene and continued driving northbound on SR-1, CHP said. The driver of the vehicle has not been identified. Authorities do not know whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, authorities added.

Fletcher was pronounced deceased at the scene due to fatal injuries sustained in the crash, CHP said.

CHP is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the driver of the unidentified vehicle. Anyone with information can contact the CHP Monterey Area Office at (831) 796-2160 24 hours per day or at (831) 770-8000 during business hours.

Police have released the identity of a child who was shot and killed in North Carolina on Sunday.

Quazariya G. Williams, 7, was pronounced dead at Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg, North Carolina, Maxton police said, according to local news station WBTW.

The man alleged to have shot the child is 31-year-old Dedric Page, who police said fired shots into a car with five other people inside around 2 p.m. Sunday in Maxton. The condition of the other five people in the car is currently unknown.

Maxton is a town located about 40 miles southwest of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Page was arrested not long after the shooting. His charges include first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, discharging a firearm in city limits and possession of a firearm by a felon.

On Tuesday afternoon, Page was denied bond for two of his charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 26.

USA TODAY could not immediately contact Page’s lawyer for comment.

Victim remembered as cheerleader and ‘a sweet girl’

Maxton police Lieutenant Patrick Hunt told WBTW that Quazariya was remembered as a cheerleader and a “sweet girl who has a lot going on in her life.”

Police said the shooting happened following a dispute between Page and the girl’s mother.

On Sunday, Townsend Elementary School, where Quazariya was attending elementary school, posted a memorial for the 7-year-old.

“Q. Williams – Always on our minds and forever in our hearts – #Sleepwellourangel,” the Facebook post said.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.