Durham weather by month
Average highs run from 52°F in January to 91°F in July, and January nights average 32°F. It gets 46 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 5 inches of snow. Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Nights drop below freezing about 65 times a year. The most comfortable months are April to May and October.
Best time to visit Durham
For comfortable weather, go in April to May and October. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52°F | 32°F | 3.4 in | 2.6 in | 7 | 0 | 18 | cool |
| February | 56°F | 34°F | 2.8 in | 1.4 in | 6 | 0 | 14 | cool |
| March | 63°F | 40°F | 4.1 in | 0.3 in | 7 | 0 | 8 | mild days, chilly nights |
| April | 73°F | 49°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 3 | 0 | warm |
| June | 87°F | 66°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 12 | 0 | hot |
| July | 91°F | 70°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in | 8 | 19 | 0 | hot |
| August | 89°F | 69°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 14 | 0 | hot |
| September | 83°F | 63°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 5 | 0 | warm |
| October | 73°F | 50°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| November | 63°F | 40°F | 3.3 in | 0.1 in | 5 | 0 | 8 | mild days, chilly nights |
| December | 55°F | 34°F | 3.4 in | 0.8 in | 6 | 0 | 15 | cool |
| Year | 72°F avg | 50°F avg | 46.1 in | 5.2 in | 75 | 53 | 65 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Raleigh Durham Intl. Airport, NC (USW00013722), 11.4 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Durham
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 42m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 14h 36m. The earliest sunset comes around December 2 (5:00 pm) and the latest around June 25 (8:36 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 114 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 am | 5:24 pm | 9h 59m |
| February | 7:02 am | 5:56 pm | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:26 am | 7:22 pm | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:42 am | 7:49 pm | 13h 07m |
| May | 6:09 am | 8:14 pm | 14h 05m |
| June | 5:58 am | 8:33 pm | 14h 35m |
| July | 6:10 am | 8:32 pm | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:34 am | 8:05 pm | 13h 31m |
| September | 6:58 am | 7:22 pm | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:22 am | 6:39 pm | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:52 am | 5:07 pm | 10h 15m |
| December | 7:19 am | 5:02 pm | 9h 43m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Durham with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Eastern Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Durham getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.4°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Durham.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Durham?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 91°F and an average low of 70°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Durham?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 32°F and highs of 52°F.
What is the rainiest month in Durham?
September gets the most precipitation, 5.2 inches on average. February is the driest at 2.8 inches.
Does it snow in Durham?
Yes. Durham averages 5 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Durham?
For comfortable weather, April to May and October. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Durham?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Durham profile.
Compare the weather: Durham vs Cary, Durham vs Raleigh, Durham vs Apex, Durham vs Greensboro.