North Carolina residents haven't felt this kind of cold in nearly a decade.  Friday's high at Raleigh-Durham International Airport was 28 degrees, the coldest daytime high we've seen since December 20, 2004.  However, the real cold air will arrive overnight with Saturday morning temperatures reaching down into the single digits. 

If that happens, the Saturday morning forecast of 9 will be the coldest temperature our area has seen since January 29, 2000.  Despite all this cold air, no records are expected to be broken.  The record low Saturday morning is actually one degree below zero, a record set in 1977.

A temperature of 9 seems warm compared to the temperature at Asheville Friday morning.  Their morning low was 5 degrees, but the record there was minus one, set in 1994.  Raleigh's temperature Friday morning was 15, well short of the record 3 degrees set in 1994.

A wind chill advisory issued for most of Central North Carolina Friday morning was allowed to expire after 9 a.m.

Preventative measures should be taken to protect exposed pipes as they otherwise might freeze. Appropriate precautions should be taken to protect pets. It is also a good idea to check on the elderly during this period of very cold temperatures.

The remainder of the weekend will warm slightly as highs Saturday afternoon will barely get above freezing.  Sunday's high are expected to return to the 40s, but later in the day Sunday parts of Central North Carolina might see some light rain or even a light rain/snow mix.

Read More:
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North Carolina To Dip Into Deep Freeze
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Related Links

1. Precision Weather