Birmingham, AL Climate & Monthly Averages

Alabama, United States 🇺🇸 · humid subtropical climate
Annual avg
64°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
134
Sunshine
9.2 h/day
Right now: 91° and overcast - see live conditions

The climate of Birmingham

Birmingham records 134 wet days and 9.2 hours of daily sunshine in an average year. Temperatures follow a humid subtropical pattern, running 53°F (12°C) in January up to 89°F (32°C) in July.

Climate quick facts

  • Hottest month: July - highs near 89°F (32°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 53°F (12°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 99°F (37°C) high · 6°F (-14°C) low
  • Wettest month: March (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.7 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: humid subtropical
  • Annual swing: 20°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
  • Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
  • Average humidity: 71%

Temperatures through the year

July is the warm end of the year, averaging 89°F (32°C) by day and 72°F (22°C) overnight. January bottoms out at 53°F (12°C) in daylight, 36°F (2°C) after dark. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 99°F (37°C) and the lowest daily minimum 6°F (-14°C). Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 3 months of the year, June through August being the unbroken run.

Rain, sun and snow

Precipitation concentrates in March - 5.9 inches (151 mm) on 13 days - and thins out by November. Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is October through November. Sunshine averages 9.2 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 11.7 hours.

How Birmingham compares

  • Birmingham sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 64°F (18°C) as an annual average, 54.6 inches (1388 mm) of precipitation and 9.2 hours of sun a day.

Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.

Monthly climate table

Monthly averages for Birmingham based on 2015–2024 weather data.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineHumidity
January 53° 36° 10 5.0 in 6.8 h/day 71%
February 60° 41° 12 5.9 in 6.7 h/day 73%
March 66° 47° 13 5.9 in 8.3 h/day 71%
April 72° 52° 11 5.1 in 10.0 h/day 69%
May 81° 62° 10 3.7 in 11.3 h/day 70%
June 87° 69° 13 4.8 in 11.6 h/day 72%
July 89° 72° 16 4.6 in 11.7 h/day 75%
August 89° 72° 14 4.5 in 10.8 h/day 73%
September 85° 67° 8 3.4 in 10.3 h/day 69%
October 76° 57° 6 3.6 in 9.1 h/day 67%
November 65° 46° 8 3.3 in 7.9 h/day 70%
December 58° 42° 11 4.8 in 6.3 h/day 75%

Birmingham month by month

Birmingham weather in January

January brings highs around 53°F (12°C), lows near 36°F (2°C), about 10 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Birmingham.

Birmingham weather in February

February brings highs around 60°F (15°C), lows near 41°F (5°C), about 12 wet days.

Birmingham weather in March

March brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 13 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Birmingham.

Birmingham weather in April

April brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 11 wet days.

Birmingham weather in May

May brings highs around 81°F (27°C), lows near 62°F (16°C), about 10 wet days.

Birmingham weather in June

June brings highs around 87°F (30°C), lows near 69°F (20°C), about 13 wet days.

Birmingham weather in July

July brings highs around 89°F (32°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 16 wet days - typically the hottest month and the sunniest month of the year in Birmingham.

Birmingham weather in August

August brings highs around 89°F (32°C), lows near 72°F (22°C), about 14 wet days.

Birmingham weather in September

September brings highs around 85°F (30°C), lows near 67°F (20°C), about 8 wet days.

Birmingham weather in October

October brings highs around 76°F (24°C), lows near 57°F (14°C), about 6 wet days.

Birmingham weather in November

November brings highs around 65°F (18°C), lows near 46°F (8°C), about 8 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Birmingham.

Birmingham weather in December

December brings highs around 58°F (14°C), lows near 42°F (5°C), about 11 wet days.

Seasons in Birmingham

Spring (March through May)

Spring in Birmingham settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 73°F (23°C) and nights around 54°F (12°C); rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.

Summer (June through August)

Summer sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 88°F (31°C), nights near 71°F (22°C), and rain falls on around 44 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.4 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.

Fall (September through November)

Fall in Birmingham is pleasantly warm, with daytime highs averaging 75°F (24°C) and nights around 57°F (14°C); expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season.

Winter (December through February)

Winter in Birmingham is crisp but comfortable, with daytime highs averaging 57°F (14°C) and nights around 40°F (4°C); rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days.

Climate questions, answered

How sunny is Birmingham?
9.2 hours a day averaged over the year, peaking in July at 11.7 hours.
How hot does Birmingham get in summer?
July averages 89°F (32°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
How warm is Birmingham on average?
64°F (18°C) across all twelve months - about 73°F (23°C) by day and 55°F (13°C) after dark.
How often does it rain in Birmingham?
About 134 days bring measurable precipitation, totalling 54.6 inches (1388 mm). That works out at roughly 10.4 mm on an average wet day.
Is Birmingham cold in winter?
January nights average 36°F (2°C). Chilly rather than harsh - hard freezes are uncommon.

Best time to visit Birmingham

The best time to visit Birmingham is generally April to May and October to November, when warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 73°F (23°C), with rain on about 9 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.

Pack for Birmingham with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 72°F (22°C) make an extra layer worth the space.

Birmingham temperature records (2015-2024)

Highest recorded
99°
in August
Lowest recorded
in December
Annual precipitation
54.6"
Snowy days / yr
1

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.