Raleigh, NC Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Raleigh
Raleigh is a humid subtropical city - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. July is the warmest month at 90°F (32°C) and January the coolest at 51°F (10°C), over 50.8 inches (1290 mm) of precipitation a year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 90°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 51°F (10°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 101°F (38°C) high · 7°F (-14°C) low
- Wettest month: September (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 21°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
Warmth peaks in July: highs of 90°F (32°C), lows of 72°F (22°C). January is the coolest month, with highs of 51°F (10°C) and lows near 34°F (1°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 101°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum 7°F (-14°C). Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is April through May.
Rain, sun and snow
Snow falls on roughly 2 days a year, mostly January through February. Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 3 months of the year, June through August being the unbroken run. June is the brightest month at 11.6 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.1. Precipitation concentrates in September - 6.2 inches (158 mm) on 12 days - and thins out by October.
How Raleigh compares
- Raleigh sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 62°F (16°C) as an annual average, 50.8 inches (1290 mm) of precipitation and 9.1 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 | 51° | 34° | 10 | 4.3 in | 6.7 h/day | 10.0 h | 31% | 69% |
| February | 56° | 38° | 10 | 3.6 in | 7.0 h/day | 10.8 h | 34% | 69% |
| March | 63° | 43° | 11 | 3.6 in | 8.1 h/day | 11.9 h | 34% | 65% |
| April | 72° | 51° | 10 | 3.9 in | 10.1 h/day | 13.1 h | 32% | 63% |
| May | 80° | 60° | 12 | 4.1 in | 10.6 h/day | 14.0 h | 37% | 69% |
| June | 86° | 68° | 12 | 4.3 in | 11.6 h/day | 14.6 h | 39% | 69% |
| July | 90° | 72° | 15 | 4.8 in | 11.5 h/day | 14.4 h | 47% | 74% |
| August | 87° | 71° | 14 | 5.1 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.5 h | 46% | 76% |
| September | 82° | 65° | 12 | 6.2 in | 9.5 h/day | 12.3 h | 40% | 76% |
| October | 72° | 55° | 7 | 3.3 in | 8.7 h/day | 11.2 h | 23% | 74% |
| November | 62° | 44° | 8 | 3.5 in | 7.8 h/day | 10.2 h | 25% | 71% |
| December | 55° | 39° | 9 | 3.9 in | 6.7 h/day | 9.7 h | 29% | 74% |
Raleigh month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Raleigh'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
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 7.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
July
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
December
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.7 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 Raleigh
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Raleigh is pleasantly warm: 71°F (22°C) by day, 52°F (11°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Raleigh brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 88°F (31°C) and nights around 70°F (21°C); rain falls on around 40 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, Raleigh is mild and warm: 72°F (22°C) by day, 55°F (13°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter is mild here - highs near 54°F (12°C), nights near 37°F (3°C), and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season, plus about 2 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How warm is Raleigh on average?
Is Raleigh humid?
How many rainy days does Raleigh get in a year?
What should I wear in Raleigh?
Best time to visit Raleigh
Aim for March to May and October to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 70°F (21°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 Raleigh with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 72°F (22°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Raleigh 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.