A powerful winter storm struck North Carolina bringing a prolonged period of heave snow lasting from late Christmas morning through much of December 26th. Eight to fifteen inches of snow blanketed the region and prolonged cold temperatures allows road condition to remain dangerous in some areas for many days.
Every event with a place to put it; 31 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.
A powerful winter storm struck North Carolina bringing a prolonged period of heave snow lasting from late Christmas morning through much of December 26th. Eight to fifteen inches of snow blanketed the region and prolonged cold temperatures allows road condition to remain dangerous in some areas for many days. Due to the holiday fewer than normal accidents and injuries were reported.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
31 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Five to eight inches of snow fell countywide including in Lexington. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Three to five inches of snow fell countywide with the highest amount along and east of Highway 62. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Six to eight inches of snow fell countywide including in Greensboro and High Point. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Six to eight inches of snow fell countywide including in Winston-Salem. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to five inches of snow fell countywide including Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to seven inches of snow fell countywide with the highest amount around the city of Durham east to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to eight inches of snow fell countywide including Roxboro. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Six to seven inches of snow fell countywide including Oxford and Creedmoor. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Six to seven inches of snow fell countywide including Henderson. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Five to eight inches of snow fell countywide including in Asheboro. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Six to seven inches of snow fell countywide including Warrenton. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to thirteen inches of snow fell countywide. The heaviest amounts of ten to thirteen inches fell along and east of Interstate 95 including Halifax and Scotland Neck. The heavy snow collapsed an aviary which housed many exotic birds killing 15 rare birds. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Five inches of snow fell countywide including in Albemarle. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Five inches of snow fell countywide including in Wadesboro. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to five inches of snow fell countywide including in Troy. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to six inches of snow fell countywide with the heaviest amounts recorded from Carthage to Southern Pines and Aberdeen where six inches on snow was reported. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to five inches of snow fell countywide including in Rockingham. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to five inches of snow fell countywide including in Laurinburg. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Up to thirteen inches of snow fell countywide including Nashville. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to nine inches of snow fell countywide including in Raeford. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to nine inches of snow fell countywide including in Fayetteville. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Four to six inches of snow fell countywide with the heaviest amounts recorded along and east of Highway 1 including Sanford. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow. A seven year old boy was killed while playing in the road as a car slid on the snow and ice striking the child south of Sanford.
Four to six inches of snow fell countywide with the heaviest amounts recorded from Pittsboro east. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to ten inches of snow fell countywide. The heavies snow amounts were reported from Lillington east to Erwin and Dunn including Interstate 95. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to ten inches of snow fell countywide. The heaviest snow amounts were reported from Clinton north to Newton Grove. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Up to thirteen inches of snow fell countywide including Rocky Mount and Tarboro. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Seven to eleven inches of snow fell countywide with the highest amounts falling from Raleigh east to Wendell, Zebulon and Garner. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Eight to ten inches of snow fell countywide including Louisburg and Franklinton. Up to twelve inches of snow was recorded near Bunn. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Nine to twelve inches of snow fell countywide including Smithfield, Clayton, Kenly and Benson. A six year old boy was killed when his mother lost control of her pickup truck and overturned on Highway 70.
Up to thirteen inches of snow fell countywide including in the city of Wilson. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
Up to eleven inches of snow fell countywide including Goldsboro. Many roads were impassible due to the heavy snow, however, other than a few minor accidents no other problems were reported due to the holiday.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Storm, Lee | 2010-12-25 | 7 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
| Winter Storm, Johnston | 2010-12-26 | 6 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, December 2010
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 271860, 271849, 271853, 271859, 271890, 271896, 271916, 271917, 271918, 271864, 271926, 271928, 271867, 271869, 271874, 271875, 271870, 271871, 271925, 271872, 271873, 271878, 271884, 271920, 271921, 271931, 271902, 271908, 271922, 271923, 271933.