Snow in Wilmington, NC, with winter storm: The latest forecast

On January 22, 2025By Littum

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Wilmington area from 21 Tuesday to 8 Wednesday.

“Plan for slick road conditions. The hazardous conditions could affect the commute Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning,” the weather service said. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”

The StarNews will provide live updates, so check back throughout the day for the latest forecast and road conditions.

As the snow continues to fall after 22 Tuesday, one Brunswick bridge was reopened while another closed.

The Holden Beach Bridge was reopened, according to an email sent by Mayor Alan Holden. While the message said it is currently acceptable, “driving conditions remain very hazardous and motorists are encouraged to stay off the roads. If conditions worsen, the bridge is subject to re-closure.”

The Mannon Gore Bridge at Sunset Beach was closed just before 1 p.m. 10 p.m. According to a Facebook post by the Sunset Beach Police Department, “the decision was made to close the bridge until conditions improve.”

This is the last live update for Tuesday night. Check back Wednesday morning for more updates.

As the Wilmington area enters the Winter Storm Warning time frame, there was already snow on many roads.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office posted photos on its Facebook page, noting that the wintry mix of snow “is coming down hard and conditions are going downhill faster than a sled on a steep hill.”

As a result, two Brunswick bridges were closed Tuesday night.

The Holden Beach Bridge was closed by officials, citing on the city’s Facebook page that “a near collision and loss of control has pushed us to make the difficult decision to close the bridge to all traffic. We will advise the public as soon as conditions allows it. for safer journeys.”

The Odell Williamson Bridge at Ocean Isle Beach is also closed to all traffic. Increased accumulation of winter precipitation has created unsafe travel conditions.

After a short break, the rainfall began to increase after 19 in the Wilmington area. Snow showers are expected to accelerate after 21, according to The Weather Channel. Chances of snow will be above 80% from 23.00 to 03.00. Up to six inches of snow is expected to fall overnight until the storm dissipates around 8 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, if the area sees more than five inches of snow, it will mark the heaviest snowfall since a 1989 storm brought Wilmington a white Christmas.

Temperatures will continue to drop into the low 20s as the storm moves through the region. Skies will be cloudy Wednesday morning with a slight chance of precipitation throughout the day.

Precipitation arrived in the Wilmington area after 4:00 p.m. Sleet was reported in Leland before the snow began to fall around 4:00 p.m.

Snow began to fall in Wilmington just after 1 p.m. 17. Occasional snow is likely to continue over the next few hours, according to The Weather Channel.

As the winter storm moves toward Wilmington, temperatures will drop into the low 30s and snow is expected to begin falling around 8 p.m. 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts of up to 16 miles per hour are expected.

A timeline shows snowfall expected to last through the night along with temperatures as low as 22C.

Residents have reported cellphone outages throughout the Wilmington area ahead of the winter storm. Outages affect both AT&T and Verizon customers. Verizon is aware of the issue and is working on a solution, according to the company’s website. The outage affected three NWS radio transmitters in Winnabow, Aynor and St. Paul’s, but have all since been put back into service.

Here’s a map of the reported AT&T outages in the area:

No known internet outages have been reported at this time.

All classes at the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Wednesday have been canceled. The UNCW campus will remain closed through Wednesday.

In its morning winter storm warning, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said the Wilmington area could pile up 3 to 4 inches of snowfall. However, the National Weather Service in Raleigh is predicting 4 to 6 inches of snow in the Wilmington area from 6 p.m. 12:30 p.m

The winter storm warning from the Weather Service in Wilmington remains in effect from 21.00 Tuesday to 8.00 Wednesday.

Many municipal and county facilities are closing early today and will remain closed tomorrow. Some cities, like Carolina Beach, plan to reopen Wednesday afternoon depending on the weather.

If driveways need to be shoveled, the weather service in Wilmington reminds people to dress warmly, stay hydrated, take breaks and use caution. Shoveling wet, heavy wet snow can lead to injuries or heart attacks.

Motorists traveling during snowfall are advised to pack an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state can be obtained by calling 511.

With snow and ice in the forecast for the Wilmington area, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is spraying anti-icing solution and preparing roads for the winter weather.

Department workers began spreading brine, a mixture of salt and water, along roadways Sunday to prepare for the potentially snowy weather, New Hanover County NCDOT Maintenance Engineer Blake Jacobs said.

All NCDOT departments keep salt on hand for winter weather like this, he said. Salt is used to create the “anti-icing” solution to prepare roads for snow and is again used to de-ice roads after icy weather.

The NCDOT engineers are asking drivers to watch out for NCDOT vehicles treating roads and stay home when ice or snow starts to fall.

Schools in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties have announced schedule changes for this week due to the impending winter weather. You can see the latest information here.

In its briefing Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said the highest accumulation rates are expected Tuesday night, with precipitation ending Wednesday morning.

Most likely amounts are 1 to 3 inches, but locally higher amounts, especially along the coast, are possible, the weather service said.

The snow is expected to create dangerous driving conditions, and snow-covered walkways, stairs and other areas will increase the risk of slipping/falling, according to the briefing.

“Very cold air will linger over the area today and the unseasonably cold temperatures will continue through the week,” the weather service said. “Ensure people and pets exposed to cold are safe and pipes/plants are protected.”

It’s a bone-chilling morning as if dipped into the 20s. Temperatures in the Wilmington area on Tuesday are not expected to break 40 degrees.

Snow is expected to begin falling between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said.

“Due to moisture offshore moving closer to the coast, the expected snowfall has increased slightly,” the weather service wrote early Tuesday morning.

Motorists should drive with caution starting tonight as slick road conditions are expected to begin around 6pm and continue into Wednesday.

The potential for freezing rain later this week has decreased, the weather service says. But it’s still a possibility.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a media briefing at 10 a.m. to discuss preparing for winter weather. More information about the department’s plan will be released after the press conference.

As of Tuesday morning, the weather service predicted up to three inches of snow across the Cape Fear region. Amounts may be higher in some localized areas.

Temperatures had dropped to around 25 degrees and are expected to reach just above freezing on Tuesday afternoon.

The biggest chance of snow is between 5pm Tuesday and 3am Wednesday, the weather service says.

ROAD DIRECTIONS: View the latest watches and warnings for North Carolina.

When did it last snow in Wilmington?

While no measurable snow was recorded, showers were reported in Wilmington on December 3, 2024.

Prior to the recent showers, the National Weather Service last recorded snowfall in Wilmington on January 29, 2022 — reporting a total of half an inch, according to the Wilmington NC Snowfall Database.

Also on January 10, a system brought sleet to the area before turning to rain.

What is the largest snowfall ever recorded in Wilmington?

The biggest snowstorm to hit Wilmington since 1870 brought 15.3 inches — known as the Great Christmas Blizzard of 1989, according to the National Weather Service Wilmington NC Snowfall Database. Two other notable storms have hit the area: a February 1896 blizzard that brought 12.1 inches of snow, and a February 1973 blizzard that brought in 12.5 inches.

Since 1870, 241 inches of snowfall have found their way to Wilmington, although the annual average snowfall is only 1.6 inches.

The most snowstorms are seen in Wilmington in January and February, with both months accounting for a total of 66% of all events.

How to stay safe against cold weather

Even without snow and ice, cold weather itself can still cause some safety and health issues. Here are some tips to stay safe:

Keep your gas tank at least half full.
To prevent pipes from freezing, run your faucets slightly and open cabinet doors.
Have extra blankets, sleeping bags and/or warm winter coats ready for use.
Make sure your vehicle’s antifreeze, brakes, heater and defroster, tires and wipers are checked to make sure they are in good working order.