Friday marks end for bitter cold stretch; warmer weekend on the way
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School closings and delays linger one more day
- The school day is delayed by two hours for students in Wake and Durham counties.
- Johnston County Schools will be closed on Friday.
- Cumberland County Schools will have remote learning on Friday.
Friday morning will start with mostly sunny skies. Our milder weather trend begins with afternoon highs that could reach the mid 40s in Raleigh. And that's just the beginning of a steady warmup that sees us through the end of January.
Friday chill gives way to warming weekend
"Temperatures this morning are still very cold in the mid 20s," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "But it is much warmer than yesterday when we were in the single digits and mid teens."
- Friday: A chilly morning with some slick spots still possible. High of 44.
- Saturday: Mostly clear after a cold start. Highs in the mid 40s.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy, milder. High 54.
Friday night will feature mostly clear skies and another cold night. Temperatures dip to the low 20s.
The jet stream that's bringing us these arctic temperatures will finally lift northward as we head into the weekend.
Saturday morning will be another freezing start, but that is the last one we could see for awhile.
Temperatures rise into the upper 40s on Saturday and low 50s for Sunday and Monday, which brings us back to about average for this time of year.
By next Tuesday and Wednesday, highs will be close to 60 degrees.
In a typical January, the Triangle sees seven to eight days with highs in the 60s, but this year has been colder than normal, Gardner said.
❄️Will we get more snow this winter?❄️
In the wake of Tuesday's snowstorm, it doesn't seem likely that we'll see more snow this winter.
"If you're a snow lover, I don't see it coming back any time soon," WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.
"The rest of January is trending warmer and wetter than normal, so that could limit our chances for any more wintry weather this month," Gardner said. "The month of February is also trending warmer."
La Niña conditions – like those in place this winter – generally keep storm tracks to the north of North Carolina, resulting in below-normal snowfall and above-normal temperatures.
With 1.5 inches recorded in Raleigh on Jan. 21-22, we've already exceeded WRAL's seasonal forecast for snow in 2024-25.
Protect pets, pipes, plants in cold weather
While temperatures are generally moderating as January turns to February, we could still see freezing days and nights. It is important to be prepared to protect your home and family from winter's chill.
- Don't leave house pets outside for long periods in the cold. Consider pet jackets or sweaters, especially if your pup has short fur. Be sure that any animal has access to an insulated escape from the cold.
- Bring potted plants indoors, or even into the garage. Cover plants to prevent frost.
- Check insulation for pipes, especially those in attics, basements and crawl spaces. Disconnect and bring in the garden hose to prevent it from freezing.
- White flag shelters are open in Raleigh, Durham and Fayetteville for those needing a safe, warm place to stay.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Friday: Some sun, clouds in the afternoon. High 44.
- Saturday: A mainly sunny sky. High of 47.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy. High of 54.
- Monday: Cloudy skies. Highs in the mid 50s.
- Tuesday: Sunny skies and mild. Highs in the upper 50s.
- Wednesday: Sunny skies and even milder. High of 63.
- Thursday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 54.
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