North Carolina climate

World Climates covers 7 places in North Carolina. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Wilmington (19 °C65 °F) and the coolest is Winston-Salem (14 °C58 °F). The wettest is Wilmington with 1,374 mm54 in of precipitation per year, the driest Charlotte with 1,146 mm45 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are humid subtropical (Cfa, 7 places).

The highest monthly average high is in Raleigh (33 °C91 °F in July); the lowest monthly average low is in Winston-Salem (−3 °C27 °F in January).

Across the places in North Carolina, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are April, May and October (7, 6 and 6 of 7 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across North Carolina

Annual mean temperatures in North Carolina range from 14 °C58 °F to 19 °C65 °F. The typical place (the median of all 7) has a year average of 16 °C60 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,146 mm45 in to 1,374 mm54 in. The median place receives about 1,147 mm45 in in an average year.

In 6 places of 7, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 7 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 7 places, July is the warmest month, with a mean of 27 °C80 °F. January is the coldest, with 4 °C40 °F. The wettest month on average is August (128 mm5.0 in). The driest is January (73 mm2.9 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in North Carolina

Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 16 °C60 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C91 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C30 °F. About 1,146 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and October the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and October.

Raleigh has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 16 °C60 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C91 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C29 °F. About 1,186 mm47 in of precipitation falls in a year. August is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and October.

Greensboro has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C58 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,147 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and September and October.

Winston-Salem has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 14 °C58 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,147 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and September and October.

Fayetteville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 17 °C62 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C91 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of 0 °C32 °F. About 1,237 mm49 in of precipitation falls in a year. August is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and October.

Wilmington has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 19 °C65 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 30 °C87 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of 5 °C41 °F. About 1,374 mm54 in of precipitation falls in a year. September is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April.

High Point has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C58 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,147 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and May and September and October.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in North Carolina?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in North Carolina is Wilmington at 19 °C65 °F. The coolest is Winston-Salem at 14 °C58 °F.

Where does it rain the most in North Carolina?

Wilmington gets the most precipitation, 1,374 mm54 in in an average year. The driest place is Charlotte with 1,146 mm45 in.

How many places in North Carolina does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 7 places in North Carolina. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit North Carolina?

It depends on the place. Across North Carolina, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are April, May and October. Check the page of each city for its own best months.