Durham, NC Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Durham
Weather in Durham follows a humid subtropical pattern. The warmest and coolest months, July and January, average 90°F (32°C) and 50°F (10°C) by day; nights in those months run 72°F (22°C) and 33°F (0°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 90°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 50°F (10°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · 5°F (-15°C) low
- Wettest month: September (11 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 22°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 2 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
- Average humidity: 71%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 50°F (10°C) by day, 33°F (0°C) at night. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 90°F (32°C) by day and 72°F (22°C) overnight. Snow falls on roughly 2 days a year, mostly January through February.
Rain, sun and snow
Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is April through May. The wettest month is September (6.3 inches (160 mm) across 11 days) and the driest October. June is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.0. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 102°F (39°C) and bottoms at 5°F (-15°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records.
How Durham compares
- Durham sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 61°F (16°C) as an annual average, 49.1 inches (1247 mm) of precipitation and 9.0 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 33° | 10 | 4.1 in | 6.7 h/day | 10.0 h | 32% | 70% |
| February | 56° | 37° | 9 | 3.5 in | 6.9 h/day | 10.8 h | 33% | 69% |
| March | 62° | 42° | 11 | 3.6 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.9 h | 35% | 66% |
| April | 72° | 50° | 9 | 3.9 in | 10.0 h/day | 13.1 h | 30% | 64% |
| May | 79° | 60° | 11 | 4.6 in | 10.3 h/day | 14.1 h | 36% | 69% |
| June | 86° | 67° | 11 | 3.7 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.6 h | 35% | 70% |
| July | 90° | 72° | 14 | 4.1 in | 11.5 h/day | 14.4 h | 44% | 73% |
| August | 87° | 70° | 13 | 4.5 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.5 h | 42% | 76% |
| September | 82° | 65° | 11 | 6.3 in | 9.3 h/day | 12.4 h | 37% | 76% |
| October | 72° | 54° | 7 | 3.3 in | 8.7 h/day | 11.2 h | 22% | 74% |
| November | 61° | 43° | 7 | 3.4 in | 7.7 h/day | 10.2 h | 24% | 71% |
| December | 55° | 38° | 9 | 4.1 in | 6.6 h/day | 9.7 h | 29% | 74% |
Durham month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Durham's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
- Snow
- 1 day
February
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.9 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
June
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
July
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
August
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.6 h
- Daylight
- 9.7 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Durham
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Durham brings comfortable warmth: 71°F (22°C) by day, 51°F (10°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Durham brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 88°F (31°C) and nights around 70°F (21°C); rain falls on around 37 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 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)
Through fall, Durham is pleasantly warm: 72°F (22°C) by day, 54°F (12°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 25 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Durham runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 53°F (12°C) and nights around 36°F (2°C); expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season, plus about 2 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How long does summer last in Durham?
How much do temperatures drop at night in Durham?
How humid does Durham get?
How often does it rain in Durham?
Best time to visit Durham
Aim for March to May and September to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 71°F (22°C) against roughly 9 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in March.
Pack for Durham with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, 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.
Durham temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.