A Statewide Snowfall Event in North Carolina

In late January 2026, a powerful winter storm deposited snow across nearly the entire state of North Carolina, from the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the Atlantic coastline in the east. This meteorological event was distinguished by its exceptional geographic scope. While snowfall occurs periodically within the state, it is unusual for a single storm system to blanket such an extensive area uniformly.

February 2, 2026

This satellite image, acquired on February 2 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite, depicts a nearly continuous swath of snow extending across the state. Data from the North Carolina State Climate Office confirmed measurable snowfall in all 100 of the state's counties. This occurrence marked the first instance of such comprehensively widespread snowfall in over a decade.

Significant snowfall in North Carolina typically necessitates a precise confluence of atmospheric factors. Cold, dense air from northern latitudes must coincide with ample moisture supplied by a low-pressure system. During the weekend of January 31, Arctic air that had become entrenched over the region earlier in the week persisted. A coastal storm system then progressed along a trajectory near the shoreline, generating the ideal conditions for expansive snow development.

Snow accumulation exhibited considerable variation across the state's diverse regions. In the western mountains, certain locales received more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow, constituting a major event for an area that had experienced several years devoid of substantial snowstorms. In contrast, snowfall totals were generally lower in the southern Piedmont.

The storm's influence extended beyond North Carolina's borders, pushing south into Greenville, South Carolina, situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The National Weather Service reported that downtown Greenville received approximately 5 inches (13 centimeters) of snow by the evening of January 31.

Within North Carolina's Piedmont region—the hilly central plateau—snow totals also varied. According to the state climate center, Charlotte received nearly a foot of snow, representing the city's most considerable snowfall since 2004. Raleigh, also located in the Piedmont, recorded a lighter accumulation of 2.8 inches (7 centimeters).

February 2, 2026

Notably, the storm also impacted coastal territories. Brown sandy beaches were transiently supplanted by a layer of white snow. Sections of Carteret County on the coast reported more than a foot of accumulation. In Beaufort, a mainland town proximate to the southern Outer Banks, observers noted heavy, blowing snow. Slightly inland, the city of Greenville, North Carolina, measured 14 inches (36 centimeters) of snow, an amount not witnessed since a significant storm in March 1980.

While the snow-covered landscape presented a serene visage from orbit, the storm generated perilous conditions terrestrially. Local news reports detailed hazardous road conditions that precipitated traffic disruptions and numerous vehicular collisions. Coastal zones confronted supplementary challenges from potent winds and large ocean waves.

The storm inflicted significant damage in some vulnerable coastal locations. On the Outer Banks, ocean overwash affected Highway 12, depositing standing water and sand across sections of the roadway. The powerful waves and concomitant erosion precipitated a more severe outcome on Hatteras Island, where several oceanfront residences collapsed into the sea.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen.