So far, Asheville has been chillin’ this year. The city has had a colder-than-average start to 2025, and the National Weather Service forecasts it will be snowy today.
Normally, the average high in Asheville in January is 48.9°, but every day this month has been colder than average. So, we’re staying inside and looking back at some of the headlines on the coldest day in Asheville history.
When the cold set records
Asheville’s coldest day on record took place on Jan. 21, 1985, when temperatures hit a record-breaking -16°.
That sure puts this weather in perspective, huh? The closest we’ve come to that temperature this month was when it hit 21.9° on Thursday, Jan. 9.
While this month has been frigid so far, it’s not on track to break records. These are the five coldest Januarys in Asheville history, based on average daily temperature:
- 1977 — 24.8°
- 1940 — 25.3°
- 1893 — 27.3°
- 1918 — 28.8°
- 1978 — 29.2°
What the headlines said
The cold weather was the biggest story in Asheville on Jan. 21, 1985, and the entire state was covering the freezing air. The cold wave dipped temperatures to -34° on Mount Mitchell. This set a record for the coldest temperature in North Carolina — and it remains unbroken.
Many parts of the US were impacted by the weather, particularly in the Midwest and along the East Coast. School closures were reported from Massachusetts to Georgia, and the cold air destroyed 90% of Florida’s crops, causing ~$2 billion in damage.
How to weather this month’s weather
Ok, so we’re not breaking records (yet), but that doesn’t mean braving this weather is easy. Once the roads are clear, we recommend spending time indoors checking out local museums, breweries, and brunch restaurants.
Don’t forget to check in on Asheville’s forecast and take a peek at what the rest of the season has in store for us. Who knows, maybe this will be a record-breaking year after all.
