You’ve seen the forecast. You’ve probably already looked at that little row of icons on your phone and felt that familiar North Carolina weather anxiety. But honestly, if you’re looking at the raleigh nc 14 day weather forecast and seeing a straight line of predictability, you’re doing it wrong. Raleigh weather in January is a chaotic, beautiful, and sometimes frustrating mess that doesn't care about your weekend plans.
We are currently sitting in the middle of a classic Carolina "temperature tug-of-war." Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we're seeing exactly what that looks like: a high of 43°F with a 100% chance of rain and snow. It’s messy. It’s wet. And it’s only the beginning of a two-week stretch that’s going to keep you guessing.
The Reality of the Raleigh NC 14 Day Weather Forecast
Raleigh is currently under the influence of a weak La Niña, which usually means "warm and dry." But 2026 is proving that "usual" is a relative term. Most people think a 14-day outlook is a set-in-stone schedule. It’s not. It’s a trend. And the trend for the next two weeks is "intermittent arctic intrusions." Basically, it’s going to get cold, then slightly less cold, then weirdly warm, then freezing again.
Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, things dry out significantly. We’re looking at a sunny day with a high of 47°F and a low of 23°F. That’s a massive 24-degree swing. If you’re commuting into downtown, you’ll start the morning scraping ice off your windshield and end the afternoon wishing you hadn't worn that heavy parka into the office.
Breaking Down the Next Seven Days
The first week of this forecast is dominated by clear skies and sharp, biting cold.
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Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan 20-21) are going to be the "real" winter days. We're looking at highs in the low 40s and lows that drop all the way down to 18°F. That is legitimately cold for the Triangle. The humidity is going to plummet to around 33%, which means that "dry cold" that makes your skin feel like parchment paper.
Then, because it's Raleigh, Thursday (Jan 22) hits us with a high of 57°F.
Seriously.
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In the span of 48 hours, the temperature jumps nearly 20 degrees. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a slight 20% chance of rain, but honestly, that 57°F is going to feel like a tropical vacation compared to the Tuesday morning freeze.
Why the Second Week is a Gamble
When we look into the second half of the raleigh nc 14 day weather forecast, things get a bit more "classic Carolina." By Sunday, January 25, we’re looking at another round of rain and snow. The high will be 40°F, and the low will be 23°F.
The interesting part? Monday, January 26, repeats the pattern: rain and snow with a 40% chance of precipitation. This isn't a "Snowmageddon" situation where we get 8 inches and the city shuts down for a week. It’s more of a "nuisance snow"—the kind that melts the second it hits the pavement but makes the morning commute a nightmare of black ice and nervous drivers.
Misconceptions About January Snow in the Triangle
Most people expect snow to come in one big, cinematic storm. In Raleigh, it’s usually a "nickel-and-dime" pattern. We get a little bit here, a little bit there. The National Weather Service in Raleigh is already noting that while snowfall amounts are often light, falling temperatures at night create the real hazard. Black ice is the enemy here, not the snow itself.
If you see a 25% chance of snow on the forecast for next Sunday night, don't run to Harris Teeter for bread and milk just yet. But do check your tire pressure. Cold snaps like the one hitting us this week cause tires to lose pressure fast.
Practical Steps for the Next 14 Days
Since the weather is going to be all over the place, you've gotta be smart about how you prep.
- Drip those faucets: On Tuesday and Wednesday nights when it hits 18°F, your pipes are at risk. It’s not worth the gamble.
- Layering is a survival skill: You need a base layer for the 23°F mornings and something breathable for the 57°F Thursday afternoon.
- Watch the wind: We're looking at 10-11 mph winds from the northwest and west. That might not sound like much, but it brings the "feels like" temperature down into the teens during those early morning hours.
- Check your pets: If it's too cold for you to stand outside in a t-shirt, it’s too cold for your dog to be out for long, especially with those 18°F lows on the horizon.
The raleigh nc 14 day weather forecast shows us a city in transition. We are moving out of a very dry December and into a much more active, wetter, and colder January. It’s not a "locked-in" deep freeze, but it’s definitely not a "January Thaw" either. Stay flexible, keep an eye on the daily updates, and maybe keep an extra ice scraper in the car just in case.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your outdoor pipes today before the Tuesday night drop to 18°F.
- Verify your car battery health; extreme cold is the number one killer of older batteries in the Triangle.
- Adjust your thermostat schedule to account for the significant temperature swings between Thursday (57°F) and the following Monday (42°F).