Mills River, NC climate
Mills River has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Mills River feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Mills River 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 | 47° | 27° | 4.4" | 3.1" | 9 | 2 | 29° – 43° |
| February | 51° | 29° | 3.6" | 1.3" | 9 | 1 | 32° – 48° |
| March | 59° | 35° | 4.4" | 1.6" | 11 | 1 | 40° – 55° |
| April | 68° | 42° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| May | 75° | 51° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| June | 81° | 59° | 4.4" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| July | 84° | 63° | 4.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 70° – 76° |
| August | 82° | 62° | 4.8" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 69° – 76° |
| September | 77° | 56° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 63° – 72° |
| October | 68° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 52° – 60° |
| November | 58° | 34° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 41° – 52° |
| December | 50° | 30° | 4.2" | 3.1" | 10 | 1 | 30° – 50° |
| Year | 67° | 44° | 50.6" | 9.1" | 121 | 4 |
“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 Mills River
Mills River gets 51 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 121 days a year.
About 186 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 18 and the first one by October 21. That leaves about 186 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 59% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Mills River
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Mills River, 84% of that work is heating and 16% 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.
Mills River and its neighbors
Mills River borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.0°. Asheville has both the coldest January nights (27°) and the hottest July afternoons (85°). Mills River’s January low is 27° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Mills River 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 Mills River averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.9°). The shift is smaller than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Mills River’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 30° to 50°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Mills River’s climate
What is the coldest month in Mills River?
January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Mills River?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 63°. About 12 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Mills River get?
About 9 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Mills River?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 21, and the last spring frost by April 18.
What is the rainiest month in Mills River?
August, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 51 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Mills River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Fletcher 3 W, NC (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.