Durham, NC Climate & Monthly Averages
Durham has a humid subtropical climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 90° by day; January is the coldest at 50°.
Sunshine is a defining feature of Durham's climate
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).
How sun, temperature and rain fit together
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.
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.
More climate facts for Durham
- 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%
The most comfortable sunny-weather window
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.
What to pack
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.
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
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Durham's coldest night and 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
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Durham's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Seasonal weather under Durham's sunnier skies
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.
How unusual is Durham?
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Durham temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.