Climate Comfort Score
88/100
Excellent
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 61°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Clayton, NC Climate
Pulled from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →: average temperature, precipitation, and comfort score
- 61°F
- Avg annual temp
- 88/100
- Comfort score
- 49.9"
- Annual precip
- 225d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Clayton
Clayton, North Carolina averages 61°F a year and scores 88/100 on the comfort index - excellent, milder than 92% of U.S. cities.
- 61°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 88/100
- comfort score, milder than 92% of U.S. cities
- 49.9"
- yearly precipitation total
- 225 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
61°F (16°C)
Avg High
72°F
Avg Low
49°F
Annual Precip
49.9"
Comfort Score
88/100
Excellent
Avg Annual Temperature
61°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
49.9"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Clayton) 88.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Excellent for the Clayton area.
How Clayton compares to every U.S. city
Clayton's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
88 Top 8% higher than 92% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Clayton
MethodologyZooming out from Clayton's own normal, the chart below shows how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has tracked the global mean since 1900 - the most recent decade sits warmer than the 30-year mean shown here.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53°F (12°C) | 31°F (0°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.7" | 16.7 | 0.0 |
| February | 56°F (13°C) | 31°F (0°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.1" | 13.8 | 0.0 |
| March | 64°F (18°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 51°F (10°C) | 4.1" | 10.4 | 0.0 |
| April | 73°F (23°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.4" | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| May | 80°F (26°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8" | 0.0 | 3.2 |
| June | 87°F (31°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 76°F (24°C) | 4.1" | 0.0 | 11.6 |
| July | 90°F (32°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9" | 0.0 | 18.9 |
| August | 88°F (31°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.4" | 0.0 | 10.9 |
| September | 82°F (28°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 73°F (23°C) | 6.4" | 0.0 | 3.2 |
| October | 72°F (22°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 3.8" | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| November | 63°F (17°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 51°F (10°C) | 3.4" | 8.4 | 0.0 |
| December | 56°F (13°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7" | 10.4 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall
January 3.7"
February 3.1"
March 4.1"
April 3.4"
May 3.8"
June 4.1"
July 5.9"
August 4.4"
September 6.4"
October 3.8"
November 3.4"
December 3.7"
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
November 8
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
March 28
50% probability date
Growing Season
225 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
3,247
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
1,691
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Clayton's climate means for you
Clayton runs 61°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 225 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near March 28 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 3,247 heating and 1,691 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Clayton, NC
The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Clayton, North Carolina as a location with an annual average temperature of 61°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 72°F to a mean daily low of 49°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USC00311817, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.
Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Clayton receives roughly 49.9 inches of precipitation each year, predominantly as rainfall. The frost-free season averages 225 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near March 28 and the first fall freeze near November 8. For energy use, 3,247 heating degree days and 1,691 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Clayton scores 88/100 (Excellent), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Clayton, NC? ▼
The average annual temperature in Clayton, North Carolina is 61°F. The warmest month averages 90°F (32°C) and the coldest averages 31°F (0°C).
How much rain does Clayton get? ▼
Clayton receives 49.9 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Clayton? ▼
Clayton has a climate comfort score of 88/100 (Excellent), milder than 92% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Clayton? ▼
Clayton has approximately 225 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around March 28 and the first fall freeze around November 8.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Clayton? ▼
Clayton has 3,247 heating degree days and 1,691 cooling degree days annually, a fairly balanced heating/cooling split. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Clayton climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00311817 near Clayton.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00311817. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.