Lexington, NC climate
Lexington has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lexington feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lexington 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 | 50° | 29° | 3.6" | 2.0" | 9 | 34° – 46° |
| February | 54° | 31° | 3.0" | 0.4" | 9 | 34° – 51° |
| March | 62° | 38° | 3.9" | 0.3" | 10 | 44° – 59° |
| April | 71° | 46° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 54° – 63° |
| May | 79° | 55° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 62° – 72° |
| June | 85° | 64° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 89° | 68° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 75° – 81° |
| August | 87° | 67° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 73° – 82° |
| September | 81° | 60° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 72° | 47° | 3.2" | 0 | 7 | 56° – 65° |
| November | 61° | 37° | 3.3" | 0 | 8 | 44° – 55° |
| December | 53° | 32° | 3.5" | 0.6" | 9 | 33° – 53° |
| Year | 70° | 48° | 44.4" | 3.3" | 105 |
“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 Lexington
Lexington gets 44 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 105 days a year.
About 199 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 28. That leaves about 199 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 72% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lexington
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lexington, 71% of that work is heating and 29% 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 Lexington 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 Lexington averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°). The shift is smaller than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lexington’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 53°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Lexington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lexington?
January, with a typical high of 50° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Lexington?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 68°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lexington get?
About 3 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Lexington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 28, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Lexington?
July, with 4.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 44 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lexington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lexington, NC (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.