Southport has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.
A year in Southport at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Southport’s climate
Read from where Southport sits among North Carolina’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in Southport feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with Southport’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
239 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Mar 24 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 17.
About 0.9" in a normal winter.
Months averaging under 55° run from December through March. Heating is 50% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 46 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 89°.
The nicest months are March, April, May, September, October and November. 2.5 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 →Rain and snow in Southport
September is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 122 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
About 0.9" in a normal year, so most winters see none.
About 239 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 24 and the first by November 17.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Southport averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.8°).
A smaller shift than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Southport compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in North Carolina.
Southport 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° | 37° | 3.6" | 0.7" | 10 | 1 | 40° – 53° |
| February | 60° | 39° | 3.3" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 41° – 58° |
| March | 65° | 44° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48° – 62° |
| April | 73° | 53° | 3.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| May | 80° | 62° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66° – 76° |
| June | 86° | 70° | 4.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| July | 89° | 74° | 6.4" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 79° – 85° |
| August | 87° | 72° | 7.1" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 77° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 68° | 8.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 73° – 80° |
| October | 76° | 57° | 4.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 62° – 72° |
| November | 67° | 46° | 3.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| December | 60° | 40° | 3.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 39° – 61° |
| Year | 74° | 55° | 56.3" | 0.9" | 122 | 1 |
Heating and cooling a home in Southport
50% 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 39° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Southport’s climate
What is the coldest month in Southport?
January, with a typical high of 57° and a low of 37°.
What is the hottest month in Southport?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 74°. About 46 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Southport get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.9 inches.
When is the first frost in Southport?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 17, and the last spring frost by March 24.
What is the rainiest month in Southport?
September, with 8.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 56 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Southport.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Southport itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Wilmington Intl Airport, NC (24 mi, snow) and Southport 5 N, 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.