Durham, CA climate
Durham has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Durham feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Durham weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 39° | 4.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 44° – 55° |
| February | 62° | 41° | 5.0" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 46° – 57° |
| March | 67° | 44° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 49° – 62° |
| April | 73° | 47° | 1.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 55° – 64° |
| May | 82° | 53° | 1.2" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 60° – 74° |
| June | 90° | 59° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 69° – 80° |
| July | 96° | 63° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| August | 95° | 61° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75° – 81° |
| September | 91° | 57° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| October | 80° | 50° | 1.4" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| November | 65° | 43° | 2.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 59° |
| December | 56° | 38° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 44° – 51° |
| Year | 76° | 50° | 25.6" | 0.1" | 78 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Durham
Durham gets 26 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 78 days a year.
About 257 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 4 and the first one by November 17. That leaves about 257 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 91% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Durham
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Durham, 64% of that work is heating and 36% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Durham compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Durham averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 51% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Durham’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. May swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 60° to 74°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Durham’s climate
What is the coldest month in Durham?
December, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 38°.
What is the hottest month in Durham?
July, with a typical high of 96° and a low of 63°. About 99 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Durham get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.1 inches.
When is the first frost in Durham?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 17, and the last spring frost by March 4.
What is the rainiest month in Durham?
February, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 26 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Durham itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Paradise, CA (12 mi, snow) and Chico Univ Farm, CA (4 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.