When will we see snow in North Carolina? AccuWeather, NOAA winter forecasts

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.