If you've been dreaming of a white Christmas, those dreams will not come true here in North Carolina this year.

If you lived in coastal North Carolina 34 years ago, though, it was a much different story.


What You Need To Know

  • A record snowstorm produced up to 20 inches of snow in southeastern North Carolina Dec. 22-24, 1989

  • The heaviest snow fell near the coast, with none reported from near Raleigh to the west

  • Wilmington dropped to its all-time coldest temperature after the winter storm

A rare late-December snowstorm in 1989 produced up to 20 inches of snow just north of Wilmington Dec. 22-24. It was the all-time record snowfall for much of southeastern North Carolina. 

The heaviest snow was confined near the coast. Raleigh saw only a trace of snow with that storm. Charlotte and Greensboro did not see any.

Wilmington hit all-time record low temperatures just after the storm. The temperature dropped to 0 on Christmas morning.

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