Climate Comfort Score
73/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 58°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Morganton, NC Climate
Annual temperature, rainfall, and a comfort score, sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 normals →
- 58°F
- Avg annual temp
- 73/100
- Comfort score
- 51.5"
- Annual precip
- 204d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Morganton
Morganton, North Carolina averages 58°F a year and scores 73/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 68% of U.S. cities.
- 58°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 73/100
- comfort score, milder than 68% of U.S. cities
- 51.5"
- annual precipitation · 5" snow
- 204 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
58°F (14°C)
Avg High
70°F
Avg Low
46°F
Annual Precip
51.5"
Annual Snow
4.5"
Comfort Score
73/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
58°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
51.5"
Plus 4.5" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Morganton) 73.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Morganton area.
How Morganton compares to every U.S. city
Morganton's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
73 Top 32% higher than 68% 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 Morganton
MethodologyZooming out from Morganton'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 | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49°F (10°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 4.3" | 1.0" | 22.3 | 0.0 |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 3.7" | 0.3" | 18.9 | 0.0 |
| March | 61°F (16°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.4" | 1.6" | 11.6 | 0.0 |
| April | 71°F (21°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 4.3" | 0.0" | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| May | 78°F (26°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 4.1" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.4 |
| June | 85°F (29°C) | 62°F (17°C) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 7.2 |
| July | 88°F (31°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 14.2 |
| August | 86°F (30°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 8.8 |
| September | 80°F (27°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 69°F (21°C) | 4.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.7 |
| October | 71°F (22°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.8" | 0.0" | 2.3 | 0.1 |
| November | 61°F (16°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.8" | 0.0" | 13.5 | 0.0 |
| December | 52°F (11°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 4.7" | 1.6" | 20.1 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 4.3"
Snow: 1.0"
10.0 days with precipitation
February 3.7"
Snow: 0.3"
9.4 days with precipitation
March 4.4"
Snow: 1.6"
10.7 days with precipitation
April 4.3"
9.4 days with precipitation
May 4.1"
11.2 days with precipitation
June 4.8"
11.4 days with precipitation
July 4.4"
12.4 days with precipitation
August 4.8"
11.2 days with precipitation
September 4.6"
9.1 days with precipitation
October 3.8"
8.0 days with precipitation
November 3.8"
8.3 days with precipitation
December 4.7"
Snow: 1.6"
10.3 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 28
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 7
50% probability date
Growing Season
204 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
3,802
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
1,251
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Morganton's climate means for you
Morganton runs 58°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 204 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 7 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 3,802 heating and 1,251 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: Morganton, NC
An annual average temperature of 58°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 70°F to a mean daily low of 46°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Morganton, North Carolina. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from station USC00315838 and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.
Beyond temperature, Morganton averages 51.5 inches of precipitation annually, with 4.5 inches typically falling as snow - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 204 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 7 and the first fall freeze near October 28. Turning to energy use, 3,802 heating degree days and 1,251 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Morganton scores 73/100 (Good), 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 Morganton, NC? ▼
The average annual temperature in Morganton, North Carolina is 58°F. The warmest month averages 88°F (31°C) and the coldest averages 28°F (-2°C).
How much rain does Morganton get? ▼
Morganton receives 51.5 inches of precipitation annually, including 4.5 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Morganton? ▼
Morganton has a climate comfort score of 73/100 (Good), milder than 68% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Morganton? ▼
Morganton has approximately 204 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 7 and the first fall freeze around October 28.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Morganton? ▼
Morganton has 3,802 heating degree days and 1,251 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. 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 Morganton climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00315838 near Morganton.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00315838. 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.