Wilmington, DE Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Wilmington
Wilmington runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 24°C separates the average July from the average January. Afternoons reach 86°F (30°C) at the peak of summer and 42°F (5°C) at the depth of winter, with 131 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 86°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 42°F (5°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (36°C) high · -1°F (-18°C) low
- Wettest month: August (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 9°C
- Snow: about 8 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 69%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 42°F (5°C) by day, 28°F (-2°C) at night. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 86°F (30°C) by day and 70°F (21°C) overnight. Sunshine averages 8.6 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 11.7 hours.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average July and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 79% of the cities we track. Precipitation concentrates in August - 5.5 inches (140 mm) on 14 days - and thins out by November. Snow falls on roughly 8 days a year, mostly December through March. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 98°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum -1°F (-18°C).
How Wilmington compares
- Wilmington sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 56°F (13°C) as an annual average, 52.1 inches (1324 mm) of precipitation and 8.6 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 | 42° | 28° | 10 | 3.8 in | 6.0 h/day | 9.6 h | 34% | 67% |
| February | 46° | 29° | 10 | 3.5 in | 6.9 h/day | 10.6 h | 35% | 66% |
| March | 53° | 35° | 11 | 4.3 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.8 h | 35% | 64% |
| April | 63° | 45° | 11 | 4.3 in | 9.0 h/day | 13.2 h | 36% | 65% |
| May | 72° | 55° | 12 | 4.6 in | 9.7 h/day | 14.3 h | 38% | 70% |
| June | 81° | 64° | 13 | 4.9 in | 11.3 h/day | 15.0 h | 43% | 69% |
| July | 86° | 70° | 14 | 5.1 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.7 h | 45% | 73% |
| August | 84° | 69° | 14 | 5.5 in | 10.7 h/day | 13.7 h | 44% | 74% |
| September | 78° | 62° | 10 | 4.5 in | 9.0 h/day | 12.4 h | 35% | 73% |
| October | 67° | 52° | 8 | 3.9 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.1 h | 27% | 72% |
| November | 55° | 40° | 8 | 3.1 in | 7.5 h/day | 9.9 h | 25% | 68% |
| December | 47° | 33° | 10 | 4.5 in | 5.7 h/day | 9.4 h | 32% | 72% |
Wilmington month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Wilmington's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.0 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
- Snow
- 3 days
February
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.9 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
- Snow
- 3 days
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 2 days
April
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
June
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
July
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
September
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
December
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 5.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.4 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Wilmington
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Wilmington is crisp but comfortable: 63°F (17°C) by day, 45°F (7°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Wilmington runs hot: 84°F (29°C) by day, 67°F (20°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.2 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 Wilmington is mild, with daytime highs averaging 67°F (19°C) and nights around 51°F (11°C); expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Wilmington runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 45°F (7°C) and nights around 30°F (-1°C); rain falls on around 30 of the 90 days, plus about 6 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
Does it freeze in Wilmington?
How often does it rain in Wilmington?
How sunny is Wilmington?
What is the average temperature in Wilmington?
How cold does Wilmington get in winter?
Best time to visit Wilmington
Aim for April to May and September to October if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 70°F (21°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Wilmington with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 86°F (30°C) with 70°F (21°C).
Wilmington 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.