On those rare days when snow falls on coastal North Carolina, people young and old turn out by the hundreds to see the wintry precipitation falling over the ocean and onto the beaches. It is a remarkable and wonderful sight to behold.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) winter outlook released in mid-October has North Carolina seeing a drier than normal winter. It says the emerging La Niña will influence the upcoming winter patterns and leave the southern portion of the country warmer and drier.
The strongest chance for above normal temperatures is forecast for the southern Mid-Atlantic, the Gulf Coast, and a majority of Texas.
Snow has been increasingly rare in Wilmington since the 1980s. Since 2020, the city has only received 0.5 inches.
The last measurable snows of 1 inch or more occurred Jan. 11, 2011, and Jan. 3–4, 2018.
A late December snowstorm in 1989 brought a white Christmas blizzard with 20 inches just north of Wilmington over a period of two days, Dec. 22-24.
Oct. 15 this year saw light snow fall in the hard-hit Western North Carolina mountains, including at the Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Beech Mountain, Cataloochee, and Appalachian Mountain ski areas.
Snowiest months:
January, followed by February
Snowiest decade:
The 1980s, with 35.4 inches
One-day record:
9.6 inches on Dec. 23, 1989
Earliest snow in season:
Nov. 20, 1879
Latest snow in season:
March 31, 1915
Other notable Wilmington snowfalls:
February 1973: 12.5 inches
February 1896: 12.1 inches