Sandy Creek, NC climate
Sandy Creek has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 34°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Sandy Creek feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Sandy Creek 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 | 57° | 34° | 3.7" | 0.5" | 11 | 1 | 39° – 51° |
| February | 60° | 36° | 3.4" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 39° – 57° |
| March | 67° | 41° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48° – 61° |
| April | 75° | 50° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| June | 87° | 67° | 5.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 72° – 81° |
| July | 90° | 71° | 6.3" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 69° | 7.0" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 77° – 82° |
| September | 84° | 64° | 7.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| October | 76° | 53° | 4.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 60° – 69° |
| November | 67° | 42° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| December | 60° | 37° | 3.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 37° – 60° |
| Year | 74° | 52° | 56.1" | 0.9" | 126 | 1 |
“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 Sandy Creek
Sandy Creek gets 56 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 126 days a year.
About 226 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 29 and the first one by November 8. That leaves about 226 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 84% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Sandy Creek
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Sandy Creek, 60% of that work is heating and 40% 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 Sandy Creek 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 Sandy Creek averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.9°). The shift is smaller than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Sandy Creek’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 37° to 60°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Sandy Creek’s climate
What is the coldest month in Sandy Creek?
January, with a typical high of 57° and a low of 34°.
What is the hottest month in Sandy Creek?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 71°. About 58 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Sandy Creek get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.9 inches.
When is the first frost in Sandy Creek?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 8, and the last spring frost by March 29.
What is the rainiest month in Sandy Creek?
September, with 7.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 56 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Sandy Creek itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Leland 5.7 Wsw, NC (7 mi, snow) and Wilmington 7 N, NC (14 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.