Durham County, NC Climate


Reviews



Download our custom City Report to see exclusive
data on cost of living, crime, climate, and more.
Durham, NC County has a humid subtropical climate with warm and humid summers and cool winters. The average summer temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average winter temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation in Durham County is abundant and evenly distributed throughout the year, averaging around 48 inches annually. The area also experiences moderate rainfall throughout most of the year, with occasional thunderstorms during the summer months. Winters are typically mild but can see some snowfall occasionally. Overall, Durham County provides an ideal climate for those looking to escape the extremes of other parts of the country.

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

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

On average, there are 217 sunny days per year in Durham County. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Durham County gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 106 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 29
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 County is 7.5 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in North Carolina.

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

  ClimateDurham, North CarolinaUnited States
  46.1 in.38.1 in.
  3.8 in.27.8 in.
  105.9 days106.2 days
  217 days205 days
  88.8°85.8°
  29.0°21.7°
  7.57
  4.64.3
  371 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 County with an average high temperature of 88.8°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in North Carolina. In Durham County, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Durham County are May, September and April.
In Durham County, there are 36.5 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 County with an average of 29.0°. This is colder than most places in North Carolina.
In Durham County, there are 72.9 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in North Carolina.
In Durham County, 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 County 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 County with 4.6 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 3.3 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 46.1 inches in Durham County means that it is drier than most places in North Carolina.
July is the rainiest month in Durham County with 10.3 days of rain, and October is the driest month with only 6.9 rainy days. There are 105.9 rainy days annually in Durham County, which is less rainy than most 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 3.8 inches in Durham County means that it is snowier than most places in North Carolina. January is the snowiest month in Durham County with 2.0 inches of snow, and 2 months of the year have significant snowfall.
Jobs