Honestly, if you've lived in the Triangle for more than a week, you know the drill. Everyone sees a snowflake icon on their phone and suddenly Harris Teeter is out of bread and milk. But tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, 2026, is looking a bit more nuanced than your average "snowmageddon" hype. It’s one of those weird, messy setups where the line between a rainy walk and a slushy mess is razor-thin.
Durham weather tomorrow: The actual breakdown
Basically, we're looking at a high of 40°F and a low of 28°F. That 40-degree mark is the big "gotcha." It’s technically too warm for snow to stick to the pavement for most of the day, but the sky doesn't always care what the asphalt thinks.
The morning starts off with a rain and snow mix. There is a 45% chance of precipitation during the day. Don't expect a winter wonderland for your morning coffee; expect more of a "wet and cold" vibe. The wind will be coming from the northwest at 8 mph, which adds just enough of a bite to make that 40 degrees feel significantly colder.
👉 See also: Why the Christian School Shooting 2025 Discussion is Still Centered on Security and Mental Health Gaps
Why the "mix" matters
The National Weather Service is tracking a clipper storm moving across the Great Lakes, and it's dragging some cold air down into central North Carolina. In Durham, the moisture is going to collide with that cold air just as temperatures are hovering right around the freezing mark in the upper atmosphere.
- Morning: Likely a slushy rain/snow mix.
- Afternoon: Could transition to mostly snow showers as the colder air wins the tug-of-war.
- Accumulation: We are looking at a coating to maybe an inch, mostly on grassy areas and your neighbor’s Prius.
The humidity is sitting at 75%, and with a UV index of 0, there isn't going to be any sun to help melt things off once they start falling. It’s going to be a grey, damp Sunday.
The black ice threat nobody is talking about
While everyone is obsessed with whether they'll see white flakes during the Panthers game, the real issue starts after the sun goes down. Sunday night is going to be clear, but the temperature is plummeting to 28°F.
👉 See also: Federal Medical Center Carswell Fort Worth Texas: What Really Happens Inside
When you have a 45% chance of rain and snow during the day, you end up with wet roads. When that 28-degree air hits those wet roads after dark, you get black ice. This is especially true for bridges and overpasses on I-40 and the Durham Freeway. The NWS has already flagged that "any lingering wetness on roads could freeze," creating patchy black ice for the Monday morning commute.
What to actually do tomorrow
- Check your tires today. Seriously. If your treads are bald, a 40-degree slushy road is basically an ice rink.
- Plan for "slush travel." If you're heading to Ninth Street or Brightleaf, give yourself an extra ten minutes. Visibility might be low during those "bursts" of heavier snow.
- Watch the evening freeze. If you don't have to be out after 8:00 PM on Sunday, just stay home. That's when the transition from "wet road" to "ice sheet" happens.
- Protect the plants. Even though it was warmer earlier this week, that 28-degree low is enough to bite any early buds that got confused by the January thaw.
The "rain and snow" condition for Durham tomorrow isn't a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be smart. It’s a classic North Carolina winter day: messy, unpredictable, and potentially annoying for your Monday morning plans. Keep an eye on the northwest wind, because that’s the engine bringing the cold air in to turn that rain into something a bit more festive—and a lot more slippery.