Glen Alpine, NC climate
Glen Alpine has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Glen Alpine feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Glen Alpine 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 | 51° | 28° | 4.2" | 1.0" | 10 | 1 | 33° – 45° |
| February | 55° | 31° | 3.4" | 0.3" | 9 | 1 | 34° – 51° |
| March | 62° | 37° | 4.3" | 1.6" | 11 | 0 | 43° – 58° |
| April | 72° | 45° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| May | 79° | 53° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| June | 86° | 62° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 89° | 66° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 74° – 81° |
| August | 87° | 65° | 4.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| September | 82° | 58° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 72° | 46° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 56° – 63° |
| November | 62° | 36° | 3.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 44° – 54° |
| December | 53° | 31° | 4.4" | 1.6" | 10 | 1 | 33° – 52° |
| Year | 71° | 47° | 51.0" | 4.5" | 121 | 2 |
“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 Glen Alpine
Glen Alpine gets 51 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 121 days a year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first one by October 28. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Glen Alpine
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Glen Alpine, 75% of that work is heating and 25% 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 Glen Alpine 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 Glen Alpine averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Glen Alpine’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 33° to 52°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Glen Alpine’s climate
What is the coldest month in Glen Alpine?
January, with a typical high of 51° and a low of 28°.
What is the hottest month in Glen Alpine?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 66°. About 35 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Glen Alpine get?
About 5 inches in a normal winter, most of it in March.
When is the first frost in Glen Alpine?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 28, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in Glen Alpine?
August, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 51 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Glen Alpine itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Morganton, NC (6 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.