Washington, NC climate
Washington has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 35°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade5° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 83°, and a typical Sep 30 in Washington peaks around 78°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Washington feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Washington 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 | 53° | 35° | 3.8" | 0.4" | 9 | 0 | 39° – 50° |
| February | 56° | 37° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 37° – 55° |
| March | 63° | 42° | 4.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 61° |
| April | 73° | 51° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57° – 67° |
| May | 79° | 60° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 64° – 76° |
| June | 86° | 68° | 5.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 83° |
| July | 89° | 72° | 5.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| August | 87° | 71° | 6.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| September | 82° | 66° | 6.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| October | 73° | 54° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| November | 64° | 44° | 3.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| December | 56° | 38° | 3.6" | 0.7" | 10 | 0 | 36° – 59° |
| Year | 72° | 53° | 53.0" | 1.2" | 105 | 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 Washington
Washington gets 53 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and November the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 105 days a year.
About 237 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 22 and the first one by November 15. That leaves about 237 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 88% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Washington
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Washington, 62% of that work is heating and 38% 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 Washington 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 Washington averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°). The shift is smaller than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Washington’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 36° to 59°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Washington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Washington?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in Washington?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 72°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Washington get?
About 1 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Washington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 15, and the last spring frost by March 22.
What is the rainiest month in Washington?
September, with 6.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 53 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Washington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Washington WWTP 4w, NC (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.