Durham, NC Climate


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Durham, NC is located in the southeastern United States and has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. Average high temperatures in the summer months are usually in the upper 80s, while average low temperatures during this time are typically in the mid 60s. During winter months, average highs are usually around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and lows can dip into the mid-30s. The area gets an average of 49 inches of rain per year with most of it occurring from April to October. The city also experiences occasional snowfall throughout the winter months as well.

Durham, North Carolina gets 46 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Durham averages 4 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 220 sunny days per year in Durham. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Durham gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 109 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.


Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 89 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 30
Rain: averages 46 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 4 inches of snow a year


Bestplaces Comfort Index

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

6.9 Summer - 6.6 Winter
May, September and October are the most pleasant months in Durham, while July and January are the least comfortable months.

  ClimateDurham, North CarolinaUnited States
  45.7 in.38.1 in.
  3.7 in.27.8 in.
  109.3 days106.2 days
  220 days205 days
  89.0°85.8°
  29.6°21.7°
  7.57
  4.64.3
  400 ft.2443 ft.
Climate
YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

July is the hottest month for Durham with an average high temperature of 89.0°, which ranks it as about average compared to other places in North Carolina. In Durham, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Durham are May, September and April.
In Durham, there are 38.2 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.
January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Durham with an average of 29.6°. This is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.
In Durham, there are 70.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina.
In Durham, 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.
Humidity in Durham can be uncomfortable during the summer, but comfortable for most of the year. The most uncomfortably humid months are July, August and June. The humid season runs from June-September and the most comfortable months are October-May.
August is the wettest month in Durham with 4.6 inches of rain, and the driest month is April with 3.2 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 28% of yearly precipitation and 23% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 45.7 inches in Durham means that it is drier than most places in North Carolina.
July is the rainiest month in Durham with 10.6 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 7.2 rainy days. There are 109.3 rainy days annually in Durham, which is about average compared to other places in North Carolina. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 27% of the time and the driest is Winter with only a 21% chance of a rainy day.
An annual snowfall of 3.7 inches in Durham means that it is snowier than most places in North Carolina. January is the snowiest month in Durham with 1.9 inches of snow, and 2 months of the year have significant snowfall.
Reviews for Durham
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I was raised in this city, left for work in the 2010s, and returned in 2018. This city has changed a lot over the years for the better. Growing up there was not a ton to  More

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Over 3 years ago

I've lived in durham for a few years and my experience is coming from someone who has traveled all over the world and has lived in many different states. First things  More

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Over 3 years ago

I live here for my entire life and it has never gotten boring, I love the scenery, nightlife and basically everything here. There is always something new to do and  More

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