Climate Comfort Score
83/100
Excellent
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 59°F annual avg 2 stations
Salisbury, NC Climate
Annual temperature, rainfall, and a comfort score, sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 normals →
- 59°F
- Avg annual temp
- 83/100
- Comfort score
- 43.7"
- Annual precip
- 207d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 2 weather stations (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Salisbury
Salisbury, North Carolina averages 59°F a year and scores 83/100 on the comfort index - excellent, milder than 85% of U.S. cities.
- 59°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 83/100
- comfort score, milder than 85% of U.S. cities
- 43.7"
- annual precipitation · 2" snow
- 207 days
- growing season, frost-free days
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
59°F (15°C)
Avg High
70°F
Avg Low
48°F
Annual Precip
43.7"
Annual Snow
2.4"
Comfort Score
83/100
Excellent
Avg Annual Temperature
59°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
43.7"
Plus 2.4" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Salisbury) 83.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Excellent for the Salisbury area.
How Salisbury compares to every U.S. city
Salisbury's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
83 Top 15% higher than 85% 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 Salisbury
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Salisbury, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- 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 | 50°F (10°C) | 29°F (-2°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 3.5" | 1.4" | 19.0 | 0.0 |
| February | 54°F (12°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.0" | 0.1" | 14.7 | 0.0 |
| March | 62°F (17°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 4.1" | 0.1" | 8.2 | 0.0 |
| April | 72°F (22°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 3.7" | 0.0" | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| May | 78°F (26°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.4" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.1 |
| June | 85°F (30°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 8.6 |
| July | 88°F (31°C) | 69°F (20°C) | 78°F (26°C) | 4.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 14.4 |
| August | 86°F (30°C) | 67°F (20°C) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.7" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 9.7 |
| September | 81°F (27°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| October | 72°F (22°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 3.0" | 0.0" | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| November | 61°F (16°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.1" | 0.0" | 9.9 | 0.0 |
| December | 53°F (12°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.5" | 0.8" | 17.1 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 3.5"
Snow: 1.4"
8.8 days with precipitation
February 3.0"
Snow: 0.1"
8.1 days with precipitation
March 4.1"
Snow: 0.1"
9.5 days with precipitation
April 3.7"
7.7 days with precipitation
May 3.4"
8.1 days with precipitation
June 4.3"
8.6 days with precipitation
July 4.6"
8.9 days with precipitation
August 3.7"
7.7 days with precipitation
September 3.8"
6.8 days with precipitation
October 3.0"
5.9 days with precipitation
November 3.1"
6.1 days with precipitation
December 3.5"
Snow: 0.8"
7.8 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 30
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 6
50% probability date
Growing Season
207 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
3,532
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
1,479
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Salisbury's climate means for you
Salisbury runs 59°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 207 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 6 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 3,532 heating and 1,479 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: Salisbury, NC
The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Salisbury, North Carolina as a location with an annual average temperature of 59°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 70°F to a mean daily low of 48°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from 2 weather stations, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.
Beyond temperature, Salisbury averages 43.7 inches of precipitation annually, with 2.4 inches typically falling as snow - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 207 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 6 and the first fall freeze near October 30. Turning to energy use, 3,532 heating degree days and 1,479 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Salisbury scores 83/100 (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 Salisbury, NC? ▼
The average annual temperature in Salisbury, North Carolina is 59°F. The warmest month averages 88°F (31°C) and the coldest averages 29°F (-2°C).
How much rain does Salisbury get? ▼
Salisbury receives 43.7 inches of precipitation annually, including 2.4 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Salisbury? ▼
Salisbury has a climate comfort score of 83/100 (Excellent), milder than 85% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Salisbury? ▼
Salisbury has approximately 207 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 6 and the first fall freeze around October 30.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Salisbury? ▼
Salisbury has 3,532 heating degree days and 1,479 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 Salisbury climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from 2 weather stations near Salisbury.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00317615. 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.