South Mills, NC climate
South Mills has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 31°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South Mills feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Mills 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° | 3.7" | 0.1" | 12 | 0 | 36° – 48° |
| February | 55° | 33° | 3.1" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 33° – 52° |
| March | 61° | 39° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| April | 71° | 47° | 3.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| May | 78° | 56° | 3.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 62° – 73° |
| June | 85° | 65° | 4.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| July | 89° | 70° | 5.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 75° – 82° |
| August | 87° | 68° | 5.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 80° |
| September | 82° | 63° | 5.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| October | 73° | 51° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 68° |
| November | 63° | 41° | 3.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 46° – 57° |
| December | 55° | 35° | 3.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 34° – 56° |
| Year | 71° | 50° | 49.6" | 0.2" | 121 | 0 |
“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 South Mills
South Mills gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 121 days a year.
About 238 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 27 and the first one by November 17. That leaves about 238 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 88% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South Mills
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Mills, 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 South Mills 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 South Mills averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Mills’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 56°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about South Mills’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Mills?
January, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 31°.
What is the hottest month in South Mills?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 70°. About 40 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Mills get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.2 inches.
When is the first frost in South Mills?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 17, and the last spring frost by March 27.
What is the rainiest month in South Mills?
July, with 5.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Mills itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Elizabeth City, NC (11 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.