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Raleigh, Wake County

Raleigh: Weather service lists no rain since Oct. 17; October total still 2.57 inches

Wednesday's finished climate report still shows 2.57 inches for October and recorded fog. A 2:10 a.m. discussion trims the Sunday-night rain chance.

UpdatedThis story has changed since it was first published.

By Triangle Local Staff · Published · Updated

Downtown Raleigh buildings under a blue sky

File photo: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • The finished climate summary for Wednesday, Oct. 28, issued at 1:29 a.m. Thursday, listed 0.00 inches for that day and the same 2.57-inch October total. It put the high at 73 at 2:27 p.m. and the low at 50 at 3:59 a.m. The sheet recorded fog, including fog with visibility of one-quarter mile or less.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh climate report (CLIRDU) for Oct. 28, 2026, issued 1:29 a.m. EDT Oct. 29
  • A Special Weather Statement issued at 5:06 a.m. Thursday said patchy fog had developed, with the lowest visibilities along Interstate 85, and that visibilities may be reduced to one-quarter mile or less at times. It told drivers to reduce speeds, increase following distances, and use only low-beam headlights, and said visibilities should improve between 9 and 10 a.m.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh Special Weather Statement, 5:06 a.m. EDT Oct. 29
  • A 2:10 a.m. Thursday forecast discussion said another morning of patchy fog was expected, with less coverage and intensity than Wednesday. It said Friday will likely be the warmest of the next seven days, with highs between 78 and 83 degrees. It said the chance for measurable rain Sunday night into Monday continues to decrease, and that a better chance for accumulating rainfall remains midweek to late next week.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh area forecast discussion, 2:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 29
  • A Raleigh grid forecast generated at 6:06 a.m. Thursday called for mostly sunny skies and a high near 75 today, a low around 51 tonight, Friday sunny near 82, Saturday partly sunny near 68, and Sunday mostly cloudy near 70. The first posted shower chance on that grid is 30 percent after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh gridpoint forecast (RAH 73,57), generated 6:06 a.m. EDT Oct. 29
  • The National Weather Service climate summary for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, issued at 1:55 a.m. Sunday, listed 0.73 inches of rain at the official Raleigh station and a month-to-date total of 2.57 inches.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh climate report (CLIRDU) for Oct. 17, 2026, issued 1:55 a.m. EDT Oct. 18
  • The finished climate summary for Monday, Oct. 26, issued at 1:37 a.m. Tuesday, listed 0.00 inches for that day and the same 2.57-inch October total.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh climate report (CLIRDU) for Oct. 26, 2026, issued 1:37 a.m. EDT Oct. 27
  • A Tuesday, Oct. 27, climate update issued at 4:59 p.m. and valid as of 4 p.m. listed 0.00 inches so far that day, a high of 76 at 2:58 p.m., a low of 41 at 6:52 a.m., and an October total still at 2.57 inches. January-to-date rainfall was 29.99 inches, 8.99 inches below normal.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh climate report (CLIRDU) for Oct. 27, 2026, issued 4:59 p.m. EDT, valid as of 4 p.m.
  • The finished climate summary for Tuesday, Oct. 27, issued at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday, listed 0.00 inches for that day and the same 2.57-inch October total. It kept the low at 41 at 6:52 a.m. and moved the high of 76 to 3:39 p.m.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh climate report (CLIRDU) for Oct. 27, 2026, issued 1:25 a.m. EDT Oct. 28
  • The office's 7:35 p.m. Tuesday area forecast discussion said high pressure should keep dry weather and near- to above-normal temperatures through Saturday, with a rain chance Sunday into Monday and low confidence in that rain. It said Friday could be the warmest day, with highs in the upper 70s to around the low 80s.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh area forecast discussion, 7:35 p.m. EDT Oct. 27
  • A 1:50 a.m. Wednesday discussion said overcast skies are forecast today and Thursday morning, conditions will remain dry, and forecast uncertainty remains high on the next chance for measurable rainfall during the first week of November. No watches, warnings, or advisories were listed.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh area forecast discussion, 1:50 a.m. EDT Oct. 28
  • A Raleigh grid forecast generated at 6:08 a.m. Wednesday called for patchy fog between 9 and 10 a.m. today and a high near 72, a low around 56 tonight, Thursday mostly sunny near 76, Friday sunny near 80, Saturday partly sunny near 71, Sunday mostly cloudy near 72, then a 40 percent chance of showers after 7 p.m. Sunday and again Monday.Confirmed by National Weather Service Raleigh gridpoint forecast (RAH 73,57), generated 6:08 a.m. EDT Oct. 28
  • CBS 17, posted at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, wrote that Raleigh-Durham International Airport had gone 10 straight days without rain after Oct. 17, and that zeros through the end of October would make that stretch 14 days. Those two counts are CBS 17's. They are not a weather-service day tally we have read.Confirmed by CBS 17 only, Oct. 27, 2026

Still unknown

  • Whether midweek to late next week brings measurable rain, and how much. The 2:10 a.m. Thursday discussion said Sunday-night and Monday chances continue to decrease

What this means for you

Instructions from National Weather Service

This site is not the National Weather Service. For the latest forecast, warnings, and climate data, use weather.gov. This site is not an emergency service. If anyone is in danger, call 911.

What happened

In Raleigh, the National Weather Service's last measurable rain at the official climate station was 0.73 inches on Saturday, Oct. 17. Wednesday's completed climate summary, issued at 1:29 a.m. Thursday, still listed the month at 2.57 inches and 0.00 inches for that day.

That completed sheet put Wednesday's high at 73 degrees at 2:27 p.m. and the low at 50 at 3:59 a.m. It recorded fog, including fog with visibility of one-quarter mile or less. Tuesday's completed summary, issued at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday, had listed 0.00 inches, a high of 76 at 3:39 p.m., and a low of 41 at 6:52 a.m.

A Special Weather Statement issued at 5:06 a.m. Thursday said patchy fog had developed, with the lowest visibilities along Interstate 85. It said visibilities may fall to one-quarter mile or less at times, and that they should improve between 9 and 10 a.m.

A 2:10 a.m. Thursday forecast discussion said another morning of patchy fog was expected, with less coverage and intensity than Wednesday. It said Friday will likely be the warmest of the next seven days, with highs between 78 and 83 degrees. It said the chance for measurable rain Sunday night into Monday continues to decrease, and that a better chance for accumulating rainfall remains midweek to late next week.

A Raleigh grid forecast generated at 6:06 a.m. Thursday called for mostly sunny skies and a high near 75 today, then a low around 51 tonight. It listed Friday sunny near 82, Saturday partly sunny near 68, and Sunday mostly cloudy near 70. The first posted shower chance on that grid is 30 percent after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. Wednesday's 6:08 a.m. grid had listed a 40 percent shower chance after 7 p.m. Sunday. Those are different products from different hours.

CBS 17, writing at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday, separately put the dry run at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 10 days after Oct. 17. That page said zeros through the end of October would make it 14 days. Those two counts are CBS 17's. They are not a weather-service day tally we have read.

This site is not the weather service. If anyone is in danger, call 911.

What we don't know yet

Whether midweek to late next week actually brings measurable rain, and how much. The 2:10 a.m. discussion said Sunday-night and Monday chances continue to decrease.

Photos

Text-only. No outlet or weather-service graphics are used here.

Why it matters

The official Raleigh station has not added rain to the October total since 0.73 inches on Oct. 17. People planning the rest of the week need Wednesday's finished 2.57-inch figure and that Thursday's discussion trims the Sunday-night rain chance.

Updates

  1. Oct 29, 2026, 6:08 AM

    Wednesday's finished climate report, issued at 1:29 a.m. Thursday, still lists 0.00 inches and a 2.57-inch October total, and it recorded fog. A 5:06 a.m. statement put the lowest visibilities along Interstate 85. A 2:10 a.m. discussion trims the Sunday-night rain chance and leaves a better chance midweek to late next week.

  2. Oct 28, 2026, 5:58 AM

    The finished Tuesday climate report, issued at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday, still lists 0.00 inches and a 2.57-inch October total. A 1:50 a.m. discussion keeps today and Thursday dry and leaves the next measurable rain uncertain in the first week of November.

  3. Oct 27, 2026, 9:55 PM

    Tuesday's 4:59 p.m. climate update still listed an October total of 2.57 inches, unchanged since the Oct. 17 rain. The 7:35 p.m. discussion keeps the region dry through Saturday and leaves a low-confidence rain chance Sunday into Monday.

Sources

  1. Finished climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:29 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026 (Wednesday, Oct. 28, rainfall 0.00; high 73 at 2:27 p.m.; low 50 at 3:59 a.m.; October total 2.57 inches, 0.51 below normal; since Jan. 1, 29.99 inches, 9.08 below normal; fog and fog with visibility of one-quarter mile or less recorded. Do not use the extra 71/53 campus block at the bottom of the product.)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  2. Archived finished climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:29 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  3. Special Weather Statement, National Weather Service Raleigh, 5:06 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026 (patchy dense fog; lowest visibilities along Interstate 85; visibilities may be reduced to one-quarter mile or less; reduce speeds, increase following distances, use only low-beam headlights; visibilities should improve between 9 and 10 a.m.)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  4. Archived Special Weather Statement, National Weather Service Raleigh, 5:06 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  5. Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Raleigh, 2:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026 (another morning of patchy fog, less coverage and intensity than Wednesday; Friday likely warmest of next seven days, highs 78 to 83; measurable rain chances decrease Sunday night into Monday; better chance for accumulating rainfall midweek to late next week)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  6. Archived Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Raleigh, 2:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  7. National Weather Service gridpoint forecast for Raleigh (RAH 73,57), generated 6:06 a.m. EDT Oct. 29, 2026 (today mostly sunny, high near 75; tonight low around 51; Friday sunny near 82; Saturday partly sunny near 68; Sunday mostly cloudy near 70; first posted shower chance 30 percent after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 29, 2026, 6:07 AM

  8. Finished climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:25 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2026 (Tuesday, Oct. 27, rainfall 0.00; high 76 at 3:39 p.m.; low 41 at 6:52 a.m.; October total 2.57 inches, 0.42 below normal; since Jan. 1, 29.99 inches, 8.99 below normal; no significant weather observed)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:50 AM

  9. Archived finished climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:25 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2026

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:50 AM

  10. Afternoon climate update, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 4:59 p.m. EDT Oct. 27, 2026, valid as of 4 p.m. (Tuesday rainfall 0.00 so far; high 76 at 2:58 p.m.; low 41 at 6:52 a.m.; October total 2.57 inches)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 27, 2026, 9:50 PM

  11. Climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:37 a.m. EDT Oct. 27, 2026 (Monday, Oct. 26, rainfall 0.00; October total 2.57 inches)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 27, 2026, 9:50 PM

  12. Climate report, National Weather Service Raleigh (CLIRDU), 1:55 a.m. EDT Oct. 18, 2026 (Saturday, Oct. 17, rainfall 0.73 inches; October total 2.57 inches)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 27, 2026, 9:50 PM

  13. Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Raleigh, 1:50 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2026 (overcast today and Thursday morning, remaining dry; next measurable rain uncertain in the first week of November; highs a couple degrees cooler than Tuesday, closer to normal; lows tonight in the 50s; no watches or warnings)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:50 AM

  14. Archived Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Raleigh, 1:50 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2026

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:50 AM

  15. Archived Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Raleigh, 7:35 p.m. EDT Oct. 27, 2026 (dry through Saturday; rain chance Sunday into Monday, confidence low)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh, via Iowa Environmental Mesonet · Checked Oct 27, 2026, 9:50 PM

  16. National Weather Service gridpoint forecast for Raleigh (RAH 73,57), generated 6:08 a.m. EDT Oct. 28, 2026 (today patchy fog 9-10 a.m., high near 72; tonight low around 56; Thursday mostly sunny near 76; Friday sunny near 80; Saturday partly sunny near 71; Sunday mostly cloudy near 72; Sunday night chance showers after 7 p.m., 40 percent; Monday chance showers, 40 percent)

    Official sourcePublished by National Weather Service, Raleigh · Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:50 AM

  17. Lengthy dry stretch continues in central NC, with another rain-free week ahead (CBS 17 / WNCN, Matthew Huddleston, posted and updated Oct. 27, 2026, 8:34 p.m. EDT: 10 straight days without rain at Raleigh-Durham International Airport; last rain Oct. 17; zeros through month's end would make 14 days; first days of November look more unsettled. The 10-day and 14-day counts, and the May-June and 2000 comparison lines on that page, are CBS 17's. This file does not use those older-streak figures. Text-only; no CBS 17 photos used.)

    Published by CBS 17 · Checked Oct 27, 2026, 9:50 PM

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