Raleigh, NC – Christmas promises to be one of the coldest days of the year in the Triangle, and some snowfalls are possible. Residual moisture from a cold front that has passed overnight, when combined with cold air from the north, can result in snow showers or even gusts at any time of day, said meteorologist Peta Sheerwood of WRAL.
This chance is minimal and not everyone will see flakes, she added.
In Orange and Durham counties, the possibility of a storm was greater around dawn, when the rain changed to brief snow in some areas.
The rest of the day will bring a cool breeze, with temperatures dropping to the freezing mark.
The hottest part of Christmas day came before dawn for the Triangle. Temperatures will gradually cool – reaching 32 degrees in the late afternoon and reaching 20 degrees overnight in Raleigh.
Saturday and Sunday will be cold and clear, with temperatures gradually returning to normal daytime highs in the 1950s.
The chance of gusts is in stark contrast to the western part of the state, where residents and holiday visitors woke up to a white Christmas.
The cold front that brought the cold of North Carolina shed some snow in the mountains of North Carolina on Christmas Eve night. Houses, decorated with Christmas lights and joy, were also lined with a white blanket.