2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Shelby, NC vs Hickory, NC

Highlights

On average, there are 210 sunny days per year in Hickory. Shelby averages 218 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Hickory, North Carolina gets 45.2 inches of rain, on average, per year. Shelby, North Carolina gets 47.4 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Hickory averages 3.8 inches of snow per year. Shelby averages 3.9 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Hickory, North Carolina
Summer High: the July high is around 87.7 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 28.7
Rain: averages 45.2 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 3.8 inches of snow a year

Shelby, North Carolina
Summer High: the July high is around 89.3 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 27.9
Rain: averages 47.4 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 3.9 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Hickory is 7.6 (10=best), which means it is one of the most pleasant places in North Carolina.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Shelby is 7.6 (10=best), which means it is one of the most pleasant places in North Carolina.

Today's Weather - Shelby, NC

82°F

Today's Weather - Hickory, NC

84°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Shelby / Hickory

July is the hottest month for Shelby with an average high temperature of 89.3°, which ranks it as about average compared to other places in North Carolina. In Shelby, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Shelby are May, September and October.

July is the hottest month for Hickory with an average high temperature of 87.7°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in North Carolina. In Hickory, there are 5 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Hickory are May, September and June.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Shelby with an average of 27.9°. This is colder than most places in North Carolina.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Hickory with an average of 28.7°. This is colder than most places in North Carolina.

In Shelby, there are 36.2 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.

In Hickory, there are 27.4 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in North Carolina.

In Shelby, there are 79.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in North Carolina.

In Hickory, there are 72.8 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in North Carolina.

In Shelby, there are 0.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in North Carolina.

In Hickory, there are 0.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in North Carolina.

March is the wettest month in Shelby with 4.6 inches of rain, and the driest month is April with 3.5 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 27% of yearly precipitation and 23% occurs in Winter, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 47.4 inches in Shelby means that it is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.


July is the wettest month in Hickory with 4.3 inches of rain, and the driest month is November with 3.3 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 27% of yearly precipitation and 23% occurs in Winter, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 45.2 inches in Hickory means that it is drier than most places in North Carolina.

July is the rainiest month in Shelby with 10.4 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 7.1 rainy days. There are 107.1 rainy days annually in Shelby, 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.

July is the rainiest month in Hickory with 11.7 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 7.1 rainy days. There are 112.3 rainy days annually in Hickory, which is about average compared to other 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.

An annual snowfall of 3.9 inches in Shelby means that it is snowier than most places in North Carolina.

An annual snowfall of 3.8 inches in Hickory means that it is snowier than most places in North Carolina.

January is the snowiest month in Shelby with 1.8 inches of snow, and 3 months of the year have significant snowfall.

January is the snowiest month in Hickory with 2.1 inches of snow, and 3 months of the year have significant snowfall.