Morehead, NC climate
Morehead has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 36°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade4° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 83°, and a typical Oct 1 in Morehead peaks around 79°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Morehead feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Morehead 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 | 56° | 36° | 4.3" | 0.3" | 9 | 0 | 40° – 52° |
| February | 58° | 38° | 3.7" | 0.2" | 9 | 0 | 39° – 57° |
| March | 64° | 44° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| April | 71° | 52° | 3.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 66° |
| May | 78° | 61° | 4.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| June | 85° | 69° | 5.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 81° |
| July | 88° | 73° | 6.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| August | 87° | 72° | 7.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 77° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 67° | 8.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 72° – 79° |
| October | 75° | 57° | 4.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| November | 66° | 46° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| December | 60° | 40° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 39° – 61° |
| Year | 73° | 55° | 59.1" | 0.5" | 111 | 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 Morehead
Morehead gets 59 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 111 days a year.
About 249 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 18 and the first one by November 21. That leaves about 249 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 90% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Morehead
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Morehead, 57% of that work is heating and 43% 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 Morehead 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 Morehead averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.3°). The shift is smaller than in 55% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Morehead’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 39° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Morehead’s climate
What is the coldest month in Morehead?
January, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 36°.
What is the hottest month in Morehead?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 73°. About 11 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Morehead get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.5 inches.
When is the first frost in Morehead?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 21, and the last spring frost by March 18.
What is the rainiest month in Morehead?
September, with 8.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 59 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Morehead itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Morehead City 2 Wnw, NC (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.