If you’ve lived around Fort Liberty or downtown Fayetteville for more than a week, you know the drill. One day you’re wearing a light hoodie at a Woodpeckers game—or at least dreaming of baseball season—and the next, you’re scraping a thin, stubborn layer of ice off your windshield at 6:00 AM. Right now, the 10 day forecast in fayetteville nc is looking like a classic North Carolina rollercoaster. We aren't just talking about a little chill; we're looking at a stretch where the atmosphere can't seem to make up its mind between a cold spring and a genuine Arctic blast.
Honestly, it’s a lot to track.
Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we're dealing with a messy mix of rain and gray skies with a high of about 47°F. But don't let that "mild" number fool you. As the sun dips, those temperatures are going to crater. We’re looking at a low near 28°F tonight. That’s a nearly 20-degree drop that'll turn any leftover puddles on Skibo Road into literal skating rinks by tomorrow morning.
The Week Ahead: Sunny but Sharp
Monday and Tuesday are basically carbon copies of each other, just with slightly different levels of "teeth" in the wind. Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, stays crisp. You’ll see plenty of sunshine, but the high is struggling to break 46°F. It’s the kind of cold that feels manageable until you step out of the sun. Tuesday gets even tighter, with highs potentially stuck in the low 40s and an overnight low that could dip to a bone-chilling 24°F.
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If you have sensitive plants or pipes that haven't been insulated, Tuesday night is your "last call" moment.
Midweek brings a slight reprieve. By Wednesday, January 21, the ridge shifts. We should see highs climbing back toward 48°F or 50°F. It isn't exactly T-shirt weather, but compared to the start of the week, it’ll feel like a tropical vacation. Thursday keeps that momentum going, pushing us into the mid-50s.
- Sunday (Jan 18): High 47° / Low 28° (Rain early)
- Monday (Jan 19): High 46° / Low 27° (Clear skies)
- Tuesday (Jan 20): High 41° / Low 24° (Bright but biting)
- Wednesday (Jan 21): High 48° / Low 34° (Turning the corner)
Will It Actually Snow?
The question everyone in Cumberland County asks the second the thermometer drops below 40: "Is it going to snow?"
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The short answer for this specific 10 day forecast in fayetteville nc is: maybe, but don't buy out the milk and bread just yet. Around Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26, the models are showing a bit of a "frozen mix" potential. We’re looking at a high of 44°F on Sunday dropping into a wet, messy Monday with a high of only 35°F.
When the temperature hovers that close to the freezing mark, Fayetteville usually gets what we call "heartbreak precip." That's the stuff that looks like snow for five minutes, turns into sleet, and ends as a cold, depressing rain that just makes the commute miserable without any of the beauty of a white winter.
However, the National Weather Service and various local meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a low-pressure system moving up the coast. If that tracks just a few miles further east, we could see some actual accumulation. If it stays inland? Just more rain boots and umbrellas.
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Surviving the Sandhills Swing
January in Fayetteville is historically our "dry" cold month, but 2026 is proving to be a bit more humid than average. With humidity sitting around 70% to 80%, the cold doesn't just sit on your skin—it sinks into your bones. It’s that damp cold that makes 40°F feel like 25°F.
You’ve got to layer. Seriously.
The biggest mistake people make here is wearing one massive parka. By 2:00 PM, when the sun is out and the temp has hit 52°F, you're sweating. Then the sun goes down at 5:30 PM, the temp drops 10 degrees in an hour, and you're shivering again. Wear a base layer, a fleece, and then a windbreaker. It sounds like a lot of work, but your internal thermostat will thank you.
Actionable Steps for the Next 10 Days
- Check your tires now. Drastic temperature swings cause PSI to drop. If your "low tire" light hasn't come on yet, it probably will by Tuesday morning when it hits 24°F.
- Drip the faucets. Specifically on Tuesday and Sunday night (the 25th). Any night where the forecast is 28°F or lower for more than four hours is a risk for older homes in the Haymount area.
- Watch the Monday (Jan 26) commute. Even if we don't get snow, a "frozen mix" at 35°F means black ice on bridges and overpasses. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to get to the gate if you're heading onto the base.
- Reverse your ceiling fans. Most people forget this. Switch them to clock-wise at a low speed to push the warm air trapped at the ceiling back down to your living space.
The 10 day forecast in fayetteville nc is a reminder that winter in the South is less about "winter wonderlands" and more about strategic planning. Stay dry this weekend, keep the coat handy for the midweek dip, and keep an eye on that Monday mix for potential travel headaches.