2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Raleigh, NC vs Washington, DC

Highlights

On average, there are 203 sunny days per year in Washington. Raleigh averages 213 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Washington, District of Columbia gets 43.3 inches of rain, on average, per year. Raleigh, North Carolina gets 45.8 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Washington averages 13.7 inches of snow per year. Raleigh averages 3.7 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Washington, District of Columbia
Summer High: the July high is around 88.5 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 26.5
Rain: averages 43.3 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 13.7 inches of snow a year

Raleigh, North Carolina
Summer High: the July high is around 89.5 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 29.9
Rain: averages 45.8 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 3.7 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Washington is 7.3 (10=best), which means it is one of the most pleasant places in the District of Columbia.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Raleigh is 7.5 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in North Carolina.

Today's Weather - Raleigh, NC

82°F

Today's Weather - Washington, DC

82°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Raleigh / Washington

July is the hottest month for Raleigh with an average high temperature of 89.5°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in North Carolina. In Raleigh, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Raleigh are May, September and April.

July is the hottest month for Washington with an average high temperature of 88.5°, which ranks it as one of the hottest places in the District of Columbia. In Washington, there are 3 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Washington are September, May and June.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Raleigh with an average of 29.9°. This is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Washington with an average of 26.5°. This is one of the warmest places in the District of Columbia.

In Raleigh, there are 40.6 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in North Carolina.

In Washington, there are 35.8 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is one of the hottest places in the District of Columbia.

In Raleigh, there are 65.7 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.

In Washington, there are 79.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the coldest places in the District of Columbia.

In Raleigh, there are 0.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.

In Washington, there are 0.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is one of the coldest places in the District of Columbia.

August is the wettest month in Raleigh with 4.6 inches of rain, and the driest month is April with 3.1 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 29% of yearly precipitation and 23% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 45.8 inches in Raleigh means that it is drier than most places in North Carolina.


July is the wettest month in Washington with 4.4 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 2.8 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 27% of yearly precipitation and 21% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 43.3 inches in Washington means that it is one of the wettest places in the District of Columbia.

July is the rainiest month in Raleigh with 10.6 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 7.0 rainy days. There are 108.3 rainy days annually in Raleigh, which is less rainy than most places in North Carolina. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 28% of the time and the driest is Winter with only a 21% chance of a rainy day.

May is the rainiest month in Washington with 11.5 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 8.1 rainy days. There are 114.3 rainy days annually in Washington, which is one of the rainiest places in the District of Columbia. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 28% of the time and the driest is Winter with only a 22% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 3.7 inches in Raleigh means that it is snowier than most places in North Carolina.

An annual snowfall of 13.7 inches in Washington means that it is one of the snowiest places in the District of Columbia.

January is the snowiest month in Raleigh with 1.9 inches of snow, and 3 months of the year have significant snowfall.

January is the snowiest month in Washington with 5.5 inches of snow, and 5 months of the year have significant snowfall.