A deep low pressure system tracked from northern Georgia to the North Carolina coast.  Warm air in the low levels allowed precipitation to fall initially as rain, however cold air wrapping around the west side of the low caused rain to change over to a brief period of intense sleet, before changing over to snow across the mountains during the afternoon, and across the piedmonts during the evening.  Snowfall rates were at times 2 to 3 inches per hour for some locations.  Snowfall came to an end quickly from west to east during late evening as drier air aloft moved into the area.  Heaviest snowfall accumulations were observed in the mountains due to the longer residence time of colder air, however the piedmont region experienced less snowfall due to warmer air lingering across the area longer, resulting in only a brief but intense burst of snowfall just as the system was exiting the area.
The following is a list of snowfall reports from across North Carolina.
- Alleghany County -
1 SE Pine Swamp:         10.5 inches
Twin Oaks:                   9.5 inches
4 SSW Sparta:.             9.5 inches
Ennice:			9.0 inches
3 ENE Glade Valley:	9.0 inches
Glade Valley:		8.0 inches
5 SW Sparta:		7.5 inches
Piney Creek:		3.0 inches
- Ashe County -
2 N Creston:		14.0 inches,
Grassy Creek:		12.0 inches,
6 NE Lansing:		11.0 inches,
6 NE Lansing:		11.0 inches,
Glendale Springs:		10.0 inches,
Baldwin:			9.5 inches,
3 WNW Nathans Creek:	9.5 inches,
2 S West Jefferson:	9.0 inches,
2 SW West Jefferson:	9.0 inches,
Jefferson:			9.0 inches,
West Jefferson:		9.0 inches,
6 S West Jefferson:	8.5 inches,
1 S Lansing:		8.0 inches,
3 SW Creston:		7.6 inches,
7 NW Lansing:		7.0 inches,
Lansing:			5.0 inches,
Creston:			5.0 inches,
Todd:				3.0 inches.
- Caswell County -
1 E Baynes:			4.0 inches,
Yanceyville:			3.8 inches,
1 NE Locust Hill:		3.0 inches,
Cherry Grove:		3.0 inches,
2 WNW Semora:		2.0 inches,
2 WNW Blackwell:		2.0 inches.
- Rockingham County -
Wentworth:			5.5 inches,
Reidsville:			3.5 inches,
Eden:				0.5 inches.
- Stokes County -
Amostown:			4.0 inches,
2 SE Campbell:		2.0 inches,
2 SSW Ayersville:		2.0 inches,
King:				1.0 inch,
Danburry:			1.0 inch.
- Surry County -
Lowgap:                  3.0 inches,
3 N Shoals:              1.2 inches,
Thurmond:               1.0 inches,
Dobson:                  1.0 inches,
Elkin:                      1.0 inches,
2 S Fairview:            0.5 inches,
Westfield:                0.5 inches,
2 E Ladonia:             0.1 inches,
Mount Airy:              0.1 inches,
1 NNE Ararat:           0.1 inches.
- Watauga County -
1 SE Beech Mountain:   11.2 inches,
5 E Boone:              7.5 inches,
Blowing Rock:           5.0 inches,
Beech Mountain:         5.0 inches,
Vilas:                  5.0 inches,
3 SSE Vilas:            5.0 inches,
1 WSW Foscoe           3.6 inches,
4 NE Blowing Rock:      3.5 inches,
5 ESE Banner Elk:       3.2 inches,
Boone:                  3.1 inches,
3 ENE Blowing Rock:     1.0 inches.
- Wilkes County -
Wilkesboro:            3.0 inches,
2 ENE Knottville:       3.0 inches,
Traphill:               2.0 inches,
1 NNE Pleasant Hill:    2.0 inches,
North Wilkesboro:       1.5 inches,
Purlear:                1.5 inches,
1 E Hays:               1.0 inches,
Hays:                   1.0 inches,
Millers Creek:          0.1 inches,
1 E Millers Creek:        Trace.
- Yadkin County -
Jonesville:             9.0 inches,
Yadkinville:            1.6 inches.

Heavy Snow in ALLEGHANY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 17-JAN-13 13:35:00 to 18-JAN-13 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals ranged from 3 to nearly 11 inches across Alleghany County, NC. 10.5 inches fell at Pine Swamp, 9.5 inches was measured at Twin Oaks and 4 SSW of Sparta. Nine inches was recorded at Ennice and near Glade Valley.

Heavy Snow in ASHE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 17-JAN-13 13:35:00 to 18-JAN-13 06:05:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Ashe County ranged from 14.0 inches at 2 N Creston to 3.0 inches at Todd. Other storm total snowfall reports include 10.0 to 12.0 inches at Grassy Creek and Glendale Springs and around 9.0 inches near Jefferson and West Jefferson. Five inches was observed in Lansing.

Heavy Snow in WATAUGA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 17-JAN-13 13:35:00 to 18-JAN-13 06:05:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Watauga County ranged from 11.2 inches at 1 SE Beech Mountain to a inch at 3 ENE Blowing Rock. Other storm total snowfall reports include around 5.0 inches near Blowing Rock and Foscoe. Three to seven inches of snow was observed in and around Boone. Snowfall totals were elevation-dependant, with higher elevations receiving the higher snowfall amounts.

Heavy Snow in ROCKINGHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
From 17-JAN-13 20:55:00 to 17-JAN-13 22:55:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall amounts across Rockingham County ranged from 5.5 inches at Wentworth to a half inch at Eden. Reidsville observed 3.5 inches of snow.