James, NC climate
James has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in James feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
James 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 | 55° | 35° | 3.9" | 0.6" | 10 | 0 | 39° – 51° |
| February | 58° | 37° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 40° – 56° |
| March | 65° | 43° | 3.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| April | 73° | 51° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| May | 80° | 60° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| June | 86° | 68° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| July | 89° | 72° | 6.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| August | 87° | 71° | 7.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 77° – 81° |
| September | 83° | 66° | 7.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 71° – 78° |
| October | 75° | 55° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| November | 65° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| December | 58° | 38° | 3.8" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 37° – 60° |
| Year | 73° | 53° | 55.4" | 0.8" | 126 | 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 James
James gets 55 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 126 days a year.
About 237 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 23 and the first one by November 15. That leaves about 237 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 88% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in James
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In James, 59% of that work is heating and 41% 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.
James and its neighbors
James borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.1°. Brices Creek has the coldest January nights (34°) and New Bern the hottest July afternoons (89°). James’s January low is 35° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How James 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 James averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is smaller than in 51% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at James’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 37° to 60°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about James’s climate
What is the coldest month in James?
January, with a typical high of 55° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in James?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 72°. About 48 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does James get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.8 inches.
When is the first frost in James?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 15, and the last spring frost by March 23.
What is the rainiest month in James?
September, with 7.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 55 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for James itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Cherry Point Mcas, NC (12 mi, snow) and New Bern Craven Co Airport, NC (3 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.