Chapel Hill, NC Weather Forecast | Local Weather Updates for North Carolina by FOX Weather (2024)

FAQs

What is the coldest month in Chapel Hill NC? ›

The Piedmont region in central North Carolina offers something right in between the coastal and the mountainous climates. The region includes Charlotte, Fayetteville and the Triangle (including Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill). If mild is what you are looking for, the Piedmont region is for you.

Winter temperatures will be above normal, as will be precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will arrive in late December and early and mid-February, with the best chances for snow occurring in late January and mid-February.

How Much Snow Does Chapel Hill Get Each Year? In Chapel Hill, we do not usually have the number of snows or the depth of snowfall experienced by our northern neighbors. We average about 8 inches of snow per year. This snowfall may come in the form of multiple moderate storms or one to two major storms.

July and August are the wettest months, and October and November are the driest. Annual precipitation varies from 46 to 54 inches (1,170 to 1,370 mm) on the coast, 44 to 50 inches (1,120 to 1,270 mm) in the Piedmont, and 40 to 80 inches (1,015 to 2,030 mm) in the mountains.

But whether you're looking to hike glaciers and ski down snow-packed mountains or just to enjoy a pleasant reprieve from the heat, there is likely a city here that meets your winter needs. North Carolina's coldest location was found to be Asheville.

In addition to being named the top place to live in North Carolina, Raleigh was also among the top 25 best cities in America, best cities to raise a family and with the best public schools in the country, according to Niche.

To start, Asheville tops North Carolina's list. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this city is famed for its dynamic creative arts scene and charming historic architecture. And things just keep getting brighter. It is the sunniest city on our list with 222 days per year.

While temperatures fluctuate throughout the year in most U.S. states, there are few states with warm weather that see averages around 70-degree weather year-round. These states include Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico.

In moderate to strong El Niño winters like we're expecting this year, we've seen above-average snowfall in most areas, including 10.3 inches in Greensboro (vs. an average of 8.4 inches), 6.3 inches in Charlotte (vs. 4.9 inches) and 7.0 inches in Raleigh (vs. 6.4 inches).

Does North Carolina get tornadoes? ›

Nick Petro with the National Weather Service in Raleigh told WRAL News EF-3 tornadoes are uncommon in North Carolina. "Most of the tornadoes that occur in North Carolina tend to be EF-0 and EF-1 ... rarely do we have EF-3, 4 and 5," Petro said.

However, the Columbus Dispatch found that most analyses of the almanac's predictions have indicated an accuracy rate of 50%. If that's the case, you might as well flip a coin.

Overall, Chapel Hill, NC, is safe and is a great place to move to in North Carolina. The city makes extensive efforts to ensure the safety of all its residents; it can't be a surprise that so many people love living in Chapel Hill.

We tend to be one of the higher hurricane impacts of any state in the country. The coast is very low and very flat, so if we do get hit by a storm, we're very susceptible to flooding.

In the summer months, the hottest month of the year in Chapel Hill is July, with an average high of 89°F and average low of 69°F. In the winter months, the lowest temperatures are reached in the month of January with average high of 51°F and average low of 30°F.

Across North Carolina, monthly average temperatures are the coldest in January.

January is the coldest month in the state, with temperatures hovering in the 40s along the coast and often dropping below freezing in the mountain region. This is when the state gets the most snow, with an average accumulation of 4.2 inches of snowfall.

One of the coldest arctic outbreaks on record for the eastern United States arrived in the Carolinas during the second half of Jan. 1985. That sent temperatures to below zero for much of the state on the morning of January 21, 1985. Several locations in the state recorded their all-time coldest temperatures.

Winters are mild and wet, with highs generally in the range of 47-53°F and with lows around or just below freezing, although an occasional 60°F warmer winter day is not uncommon. Lows may also fall into the 15-20° range occasionally. Raleigh receives an average six inches of snow in winter.