Kinston, NC climate
Kinston has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 33°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade11° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 89°, and a typical Oct 1 in Kinston peaks around 78°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Kinston feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Kinston 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 | 54° | 33° | 3.7" | 0.3" | 8 | 0 | 38° – 49° |
| February | 58° | 35° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 37° – 56° |
| March | 65° | 40° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 47° – 60° |
| April | 74° | 49° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 4.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 63° – 75° |
| June | 87° | 66° | 5.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| July | 90° | 70° | 6.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 76° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 69° | 6.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 63° | 6.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| October | 74° | 51° | 3.5" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 59° – 69° |
| November | 65° | 41° | 3.4" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 48° – 59° |
| December | 57° | 35° | 3.5" | 0.3" | 8 | 0 | 35° – 58° |
| Year | 73° | 51° | 53.1" | 0.7" | 100 | 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 Kinston
Kinston gets 53 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 100 days a year.
About 232 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 25 and the first one by November 11. That leaves about 232 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 86% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Kinston
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Kinston, 55% of that work is heating and 45% 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 Kinston 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 Kinston averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.3°). The shift is smaller than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Kinston’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 35° to 58°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Kinston’s climate
What is the coldest month in Kinston?
January, with a typical high of 54° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Kinston?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 70°. About 62 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Kinston get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.7 inches.
When is the first frost in Kinston?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 11, and the last spring frost by March 25.
What is the rainiest month in Kinston?
September, with 6.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 53 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Kinston itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Kinston Ag Rsch, NC (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.