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Climate in Saxapahaw · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Saxapahaw has mild winters and warm summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Saxapahaw at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan51°30° Coldest
Feb55°32°
Mar62°38°
Apr72°46° Nice outLast frost ~6
May79°55° Nice out
Jun86°64° 7 days 90°+
Jul89°68° 15 days 90°+
Aug87°67° 9 days 90°+
Sep81°60° Nice out4 days 90°+
Oct now72°48° Nice out
Nov61°38° First frost ~1
Dec53°32°

What stands out about Saxapahaw’s climate

Read from where Saxapahaw sits among North Carolina’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Rain & snow

2 inches of snow, 46 of rain and melt

September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 116 days a year.

46"
Rain + melted snow a year
144th driest of 773 North Carolina towns
More than 73% of U.S. towns
2"
Snow in a normal winter
345th least snowy of 763 North Carolina towns
Less than 84% of U.S. towns
2 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
192nd snowiest of 717 North Carolina towns
Less than 76% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.9"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

About 1.8" in a normal year, so most winters see none.

A normal year

What a year in Saxapahaw feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
53° / 31°
Snow is rare
Spring
71° / 46°
Last frost around Apr 6
Summer
87° / 66°
37 days reach 90°
Fall
71° / 48°
First frost around Nov 1
Best months to be outsideAprMaySepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost & heat

About 210 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 6 and the first by November 1.

86
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
<1
nights below 0° in a normal year
37
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

23
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

15
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Saxapahaw’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

210 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 6 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 1.

Little snow to shovel

About 2" in a normal winter.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from November through March. Heating is 72% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 37 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 89°.

Get outside

The nicest months are April, May, September and October. 6.5 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Saxapahaw averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°).

+1.1°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 61% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+1.8°now 42°, was 40°
🌷 Spring+0.8°now 59°, was 58°
☀️ Summer+1.0°now 77°, was 76°
🍂 Fall+0.8°now 60°, was 59°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Saxapahaw compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in North Carolina.

Summer heat89° July high
Hotter than 76% of U.S. towns379th coolest of 773 North Carolina towns
Winter cold30° January low
Milder than 81% of U.S. towns293rd coldest of 773 North Carolina towns
Precipitation46" a year
Wetter than 73% of U.S. towns144th driest of 773 North Carolina towns
Snow2" a winter
Less snow than 84% of U.S. towns345th least snowy of 763 North Carolina towns
Growing season210 frost-free days
Longer than 78% of U.S. towns233rd shortest of 773 North Carolina towns
Month by month

Saxapahaw weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January51°30°3.6" 1.1"10135° – 46°
February55°32°2.9" 0.4"9134° – 50°
March62°38°4.2" 0.2"10043° – 58°
April72°46°3.7" 010055° – 64°
May79°55°3.6" 010062° – 72°
June86°64°4.2" 010071° – 79°
July89°68°4.5" 011075° – 82°
August87°67°4.3" 010073° – 82°
September81°60°4.9" 09067° – 75°
October72°48°3.3" 08056° – 65°
November61°38°3.3" 08045° – 56°
December53°32°3.5" 0.1"10034° – 54°
Year71°48°46.0"1.8"1162
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Saxapahaw

72% of the work is heating.

72%heating
3,748 heating degree daysLess heating than 80% of U.S. towns
1,434 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 77% of U.S. towns

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.

Year to year

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 54°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Saxapahaw’s climate

What is the coldest month in Saxapahaw?

January, with a typical high of 51° and a low of 30°.

What is the hottest month in Saxapahaw?

July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 68°. About 37 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Saxapahaw get?

About 2 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Saxapahaw?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 1, and the last spring frost by April 6.

What is the rainiest month in Saxapahaw?

September, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 46 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Saxapahaw.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Is Saxapahaw’s weather one of its best features?

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Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Saxapahaw itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Graham 2 Ene, NC (7 mi, snow) and Cane Creek Rsvr, NC (4 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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.

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