Newest long-range forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide insight into what this winter could look like in North Carolina.
Meteorologists with NOAA, under which the Climate Prediction Center operates, issue three-month predictions on contoured maps, showing the probability of above- or below-average temperatures and precipitation through designated colors. The Climate Prediction Center's newest long-range forecast, issued Oct. 15, provides a look at the organization's predictions for weather conditions expected between the months of November and January 2027.
Here's what NOAA forecasts this winter in North Carolina, plus a look at the entire nation and more.
Will it be a cold winter in North Carolina?
NOAA predicts above-normal temperatures between November
and January 2027 with 33-40% confidence throughout the state.
Will it be a snowy winter in North Carolina?
As for precipitation, the entire state is expected to see above-normal levels of precipitation.
In the majority of the state, NOAA confidence is 50-60%. In a small section of the western region of the state, confidence is lower at 40-50%, while confidence is higher in another small section of the southern region of the state at 60-70%.
Will it be a cold winter in the U.S.?
Overall, much of the nation is expected to see above-normal temperatures between November and January 2027, with highest confidence in portions of the northeast and northwest U.S.
One section of the southeast is expected to see near-normal temperatures at 33-40% confidence. In one portion of the Southwest and Midwest, including all of Texas and Colorado, NOAA estimates equal chances of above and below normal temperatures.
Will it be snowy this fall in the U.S.?
As for precipitation, roughly half of the U.S. is expected to see above-normal levels of precipitation, with the highest chances of 70-80% applied to sections of several southeastern states starting at the furthest northern tip of South Carolina.
The other rough half of the nation is expected to see equal chances of above and below-normal levels of precipitation, with the exception of two small regions in the northwest and northeast placed at a 33-50% chance of below-normal levels.
What is the first day of winter 2026?
The winter solstice, which marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on Monday, Dec. 21, at 3:50 p.m.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NOAA outlook gives glimpse of what winter 2026 could look like in NC
