Beech Mountain, NC climate
Beech Mountain has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Beech Mountain feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Beech Mountain 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 23° | 4.0" | 6.9" | 14 | 24° – 39° |
| February | 44° | 25° | 3.3" | 11.4" | 11 | 25° – 44° |
| March | 51° | 31° | 4.1" | 4.8" | 13 | 33° – 50° |
| April | 61° | 39° | 4.3" | 0.8" | 12 | 44° – 54° |
| May | 68° | 47° | 4.8" | 0 | 14 | 51° – 62° |
| June | 74° | 55° | 4.8" | 0 | 14 | 61° – 68° |
| July | 77° | 59° | 5.3" | 0 | 15 | 64° – 71° |
| August | 76° | 58° | 4.3" | 0 | 14 | 63° – 72° |
| September | 71° | 52° | 4.2" | 0 | 12 | 58° – 67° |
| October | 62° | 42° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 9 | 48° – 56° |
| November | 52° | 32° | 3.4" | 1.6" | 10 | 36° – 48° |
| December | 44° | 27° | 3.8" | 5.8" | 13 | 24° – 47° |
| Year | 60° | 41° | 49.7" | 31.4" | 152 |
“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 Beech Mountain
Beech Mountain gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 152 days a year.
About 167 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 30 and the first one by October 14. That leaves about 167 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 64% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Beech Mountain
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Beech Mountain, 96% of that work is heating and 4% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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 Beech Mountain 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 Beech Mountain averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Beech Mountain’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 24° to 47°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Beech Mountain’s climate
What is the coldest month in Beech Mountain?
January, with a typical high of 41° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Beech Mountain?
July, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 59°.
How much snow does Beech Mountain get?
About 31 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Beech Mountain?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 14, and the last spring frost by April 30.
What is the rainiest month in Beech Mountain?
July, with 5.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Beech Mountain itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Banner Elk, NC (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.