Morganton, NC climate
Morganton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Morganton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Morganton 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 | 50° | 29° | 4.1" | 1.0" | 10 | 1 | 32° – 45° |
| February | 55° | 31° | 3.4" | 0.3" | 9 | 1 | 34° – 50° |
| March | 62° | 37° | 4.3" | 1.6" | 11 | 0 | 43° – 58° |
| April | 72° | 45° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| May | 79° | 53° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| June | 86° | 62° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 89° | 66° | 4.4" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 74° – 81° |
| August | 87° | 65° | 4.8" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| September | 81° | 58° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 72° | 47° | 3.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 56° – 63° |
| November | 62° | 36° | 3.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 44° – 54° |
| December | 53° | 31° | 4.3" | 1.6" | 10 | 1 | 33° – 52° |
| Year | 70° | 47° | 50.1" | 4.5" | 121 | 2 |
“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 Morganton
Morganton gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 121 days a year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first one by October 28. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Morganton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Morganton, 75% of that work is heating and 25% 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 Morganton 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 Morganton averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 75% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Morganton’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 52°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Morganton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Morganton?
January, with a typical high of 50° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Morganton?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 66°. About 35 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Morganton get?
About 5 inches in a normal winter, most of it in March.
When is the first frost in Morganton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 28, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in Morganton?
August, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Morganton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Morganton, NC (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.