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Published on January 19, 2025
Raleigh Forecast: Dense Fog Advisory, Arctic Chill, and Possible Snowfall AheadSource: Unsplash/ Connor Ellsworth

Raleigh residents, brace yourselves for a mix of foggy mornings, chilly nights, and the potential for snowfall in the coming week. The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a dense fog advisory that's in effect until 9 AM EST this morning, cautioning motorists about visibility that could drop to a quarter mile or less. The official forecast calls for light drizzle and mist early today, with a 50% chance of showers mainly before 3 PM and areas of fog clearing by the afternoon.

Tonight's outlook is less misty but far colder, with gradual clearing and lows plummeting to around 24 degrees. "Cold arctic air will move into the area this evening and tonight," reports the NWS. The frosty trend is expected to continue, with M.L.King Day seeing sunshine but high temperatures barely cresting the freezing mark, at 33 degrees, and wind chill values could dip as low as 15 degrees.

This wintry blast sets the stage for "A prolonged period of sub-freezing temperatures is possible across portions of central NC Monday through the middle
part of next week," according to the NWS's Hazardous Weather Outlook. And it's not just cold air to brace for; the forecast suggests increasing confidence that a winter storm will sweep through central NC from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, bringing snow with it. "The most likely predominate precipitation type will be snow, with the highest amounts expected across portions of eastern NC," the outlook states. Tuesday into Wednesday could see snow likely, mainly between 10 PM and 1 AM, with a 60% chance of precipitation.

Wednesday and Friday are set to be mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 20s to low 40s, but the nights are forecasted to be frigid, with lows potentially hitting 12 degrees. Saturday should bring some reprieve with sunny skies and a high near 47, though a brisk feeling in the air remains a possibility. Residents are advised to prepare for the cold and potential travel disruptions as the week progresses. "Spotter activation is not expected at this time," the NWS notes.