Raleigh 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 Raleigh
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), 10.9 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Raleigh
The shortest day is December 21, with 9h 43m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 14h 35m. The earliest sunset comes around November 29 (5:00 pm) and the latest around June 23 (8:34 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 111 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 am | 5:24 pm | 10h 00m |
| February | 7:01 am | 5:56 pm | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:25 am | 7:21 pm | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:41 am | 7:47 pm | 13h 06m |
| May | 6:09 am | 8:12 pm | 14h 03m |
| June | 5:58 am | 8:32 pm | 14h 34m |
| July | 6:10 am | 8:30 pm | 14h 20m |
| August | 6:33 am | 8:03 pm | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:57 am | 7:21 pm | 12h 24m |
| October | 7:21 am | 6:38 pm | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:50 am | 5:06 pm | 10h 16m |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:01 pm | 9h 44m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Raleigh 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 Raleigh getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.3°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Raleigh.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 32°F and highs of 52°F.
What is the rainiest month in Raleigh?
September gets the most precipitation, 5.2 inches on average. February is the driest at 2.8 inches.
Does it snow in Raleigh?
Yes. Raleigh averages 5 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Raleigh?
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 Raleigh?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Raleigh profile.
Compare the weather: Raleigh vs Cary, Raleigh vs Apex, Raleigh vs Durham, Raleigh vs Fayetteville.