Raleigh, NC climate
Raleigh has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Raleigh feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Raleigh 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 | 52° | 31° | 3.6" | 2.5" | 8 | 2 | 36° – 47° |
| February | 55° | 33° | 3.0" | 0.8" | 8 | 1 | 34° – 52° |
| March | 63° | 38° | 4.2" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 44° – 59° |
| April | 73° | 47° | 3.7" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| May | 80° | 56° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| June | 87° | 65° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 5.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 76° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 68° | 4.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 74° – 83° |
| September | 82° | 61° | 5.1" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 68° – 77° |
| October | 73° | 49° | 3.6" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| November | 62° | 39° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 6 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| December | 55° | 33° | 3.6" | 1.0" | 8 | 1 | 34° – 55° |
| Year | 72° | 49° | 48.3" | 4.5" | 92 | 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 Raleigh
Raleigh gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 92 days a year.
About 229 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 28 and the first one by November 8. That leaves about 229 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 86% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Raleigh
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Raleigh, 64% of that work is heating and 36% 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.
Raleigh and its neighbors
Raleigh borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.9°. Durham has the coldest January nights (29°) and Garner the hottest July afternoons (90°). Raleigh’s January low is 31° and its July high 90°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Raleigh 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 Raleigh averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.2°). The shift is smaller than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Raleigh’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 34° to 55°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Raleigh’s climate
What is the coldest month in Raleigh?
January, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 31°.
What is the hottest month in Raleigh?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 47 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Raleigh get?
About 5 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Raleigh?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 8, and the last spring frost by March 28.
What is the rainiest month in Raleigh?
September, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Raleigh itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Raleigh State Univ, NC (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.