Surf, NC climate
Surf has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 35°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Surf feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Surf 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 | 56° | 35° | 4.0" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 40° – 52° |
| February | 59° | 38° | 3.5" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 40° – 58° |
| March | 65° | 43° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48° – 61° |
| April | 73° | 52° | 3.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| May | 80° | 61° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| June | 86° | 69° | 5.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| July | 89° | 73° | 6.4" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 78° – 83° |
| August | 87° | 71° | 7.4" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 77° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 67° | 7.8" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| October | 75° | 55° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| November | 66° | 45° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| December | 59° | 39° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 37° – 61° |
| Year | 73° | 54° | 58.5" | 0.6" | 128 | 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 Surf
Surf gets 58 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 128 days a year.
About 233 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 26 and the first one by November 13. That leaves about 233 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 87% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Surf
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Surf, 61% of that work is heating and 39% 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.
Surf and its neighbors
Surf borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. North Topsail Beach has the coldest January nights (35°) and Topsail Beach the hottest July afternoons (89°). Surf’s January low is 35° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Surf 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 Surf averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.8°). The shift is smaller than in 73% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Surf’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 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Surf’s climate
What is the coldest month in Surf?
January, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in Surf?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 73°. About 23 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Surf get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.6 inches.
When is the first frost in Surf?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 13, and the last spring frost by March 26.
What is the rainiest month in Surf?
September, with 7.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 58 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Surf itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at New River Mcaf, NC (20 mi, snow) and Surf City, NC (2 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.