Wilkesboro, NC climate
Wilkesboro has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 8 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade8° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 84°, and a typical Oct 1 in Wilkesboro peaks around 76°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Wilkesboro feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Wilkesboro 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 | 49° | 28° | 4.1" | 3.1" | 11 | 2 | 32° – 44° |
| February | 53° | 30° | 3.2" | 1.3" | 10 | 2 | 34° – 49° |
| March | 61° | 37° | 4.3" | 1.4" | 11 | 0 | 42° – 57° |
| April | 71° | 44° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| May | 78° | 53° | 4.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 60° – 71° |
| June | 85° | 62° | 4.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| July | 88° | 66° | 4.4" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 73° – 80° |
| August | 86° | 65° | 5.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| September | 81° | 58° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| October | 71° | 46° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| November | 61° | 36° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| December | 52° | 30° | 4.2" | 1.8" | 11 | 1 | 31° – 51° |
| Year | 70° | 46° | 50.3" | 7.6" | 133 | 5 |
“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 Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 133 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 5 days of the year.
About 208 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first one by November 1. That leaves about 208 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 77% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Wilkesboro
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Wilkesboro, 75% of that work is heating and 25% 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.
Wilkesboro and its neighbors
Wilkesboro borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. North Wilkesboro has both the coldest January nights (28°) and the hottest July afternoons (88°). Wilkesboro’s January low is 28° and its July high 88°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Wilkesboro 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 Wilkesboro averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.0°). The shift is smaller than in 65% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Wilkesboro’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 31° to 51°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Wilkesboro’s climate
What is the coldest month in Wilkesboro?
January, with a typical high of 49° and a low of 28°.
What is the hottest month in Wilkesboro?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 66°. About 33 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Wilkesboro get?
About 8 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Wilkesboro?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 1, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in Wilkesboro?
August, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Wilkesboro itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at West Kerr Scott Resv, NC (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.