Plymouth has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 33°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Plymouth at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Plymouth’s climate
Read from where Plymouth sits among North Carolina’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Plymouth averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.6°).
A bigger shift than in 60% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
What a year in Plymouth feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
1 inches of snow, 52 of rain and melt
August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 136 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
About 1.4" in a normal year, so most winters see none.
About 221 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 31 and the first by November 7.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Plymouth’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
221 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Mar 31 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 7.
About 1" in a normal winter.
Months averaging under 55° run from November through March. Heating is 61% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 44 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 89°.
The nicest months are March, April, May, September, October and November. 1.3 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →How Plymouth compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in North Carolina.
Plymouth 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 | 53° | 33° | 3.9" | 1.0" | 12 | 1 | 37° – 49° |
| February | 56° | 34° | 3.3" | 0.3" | 11 | 0 | 36° – 54° |
| March | 63° | 40° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 45° – 60° |
| April | 72° | 49° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 56° – 66° |
| May | 79° | 57° | 3.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 63° – 74° |
| June | 86° | 66° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 71° – 81° |
| July | 89° | 70° | 5.8" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| August | 87° | 68° | 6.1" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 75° – 81° |
| September | 82° | 63° | 6.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| October | 74° | 52° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 59° – 69° |
| November | 64° | 42° | 3.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| December | 56° | 36° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 12 | 0 | 34° – 58° |
| Year | 72° | 51° | 52.1" | 1.4" | 136 | 1 |
Heating and cooling a home in Plymouth
61% of the work is heating.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 34° to 58°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Plymouth’s climate
What is the coldest month in Plymouth?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Plymouth?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 70°. About 44 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Plymouth get?
About 1 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Plymouth?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 7, and the last spring frost by March 31.
What is the rainiest month in Plymouth?
August, with 6.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 52 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Plymouth.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Plymouth itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Plymouth 5 E, NC (5 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.