Climate Comfort Score
53/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 51°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Swannanoa, NC Climate
Temperature, precipitation, and comfort score from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →
- 51°F
- Avg annual temp
- 53/100
- Comfort score
- 53.0"
- Annual precip
- 185d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Swannanoa
Swannanoa, North Carolina averages 51°F a year and scores 53/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 26% of U.S. cities.
- 51°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 53/100
- comfort score, milder than 26% of U.S. cities
- 53.0"
- annual precipitation · 29" snow
- 185 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
51°F (11°C)
Avg High
60°F
Avg Low
43°F
Annual Precip
53.0"
Annual Snow
28.5"
Comfort Score
53/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
51°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
53.0"
Plus 28.5" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Swannanoa) 53.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Swannanoa area.
How Swannanoa compares to every U.S. city
Swannanoa's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
53 Top 74% higher than 26% 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 Swannanoa
MethodologySince 1900, U.S. land temperatures have tracked (and diverged from) the global mean - the chart below shows how. Swannanoa's current NOAA 1991-2020 normal sits within that longer spread, and the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean.
- 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 | 41°F (5°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 33°F (0°C) | 4.5" | 6.8" | 22.1 | 0.0 |
| February | 44°F (7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.7" | 5.8" | 19.2 | 0.0 |
| March | 52°F (11°C) | 33°F (0°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 4.7" | 6.3" | 15.6 | 0.0 |
| April | 62°F (17°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.6" | 2.5" | 6.8 | 0.0 |
| May | 69°F (21°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 4.1" | 0.7" | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| June | 73°F (23°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.4" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| July | 76°F (24°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.9" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| August | 75°F (24°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| September | 70°F (21°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 62°F (17°C) | 5.2" | 0.0" | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.8" | 0.1" | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| November | 52°F (11°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 4.1" | 1.1" | 12.9 | 0.0 |
| December | 44°F (7°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 4.3" | 5.2" | 20.8 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 4.5"
Snow: 6.8"
13.2 days with precipitation
February 3.7"
Snow: 5.8"
11.4 days with precipitation
March 4.7"
Snow: 6.3"
13.4 days with precipitation
April 4.6"
Snow: 2.5"
11.8 days with precipitation
May 4.1"
Snow: 0.7"
11.5 days with precipitation
June 4.4"
14.5 days with precipitation
July 4.9"
13.6 days with precipitation
August 4.6"
12.5 days with precipitation
September 5.2"
9.7 days with precipitation
October 3.8"
Snow: 0.1"
8.6 days with precipitation
November 4.1"
Snow: 1.1"
10.0 days with precipitation
December 4.3"
Snow: 5.2"
11.5 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 24
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 22
50% probability date
Growing Season
185 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
5,274
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
325
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Swannanoa's climate means for you
Swannanoa runs 51°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 185 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 22 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 5,274 heating and 325 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: Swannanoa, NC
In Swannanoa, North Carolina, the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals put the annual average temperature at 51°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 60°F to a mean daily low of 43°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. As thirty-year averages computed from station USC00318448, these numbers smooth out year-to-year noise into a working baseline for a typical month.
Anyone planning to live, garden, or travel in Swannanoa should weigh precipitation alongside temperature: the annual average runs 53.0 inches, with 28.5 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 185 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 22 and the first fall freeze near October 24. And on the energy front, 5,274 heating degree days and 325 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Swannanoa scores 53/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Use the monthly tables above to plan around specific windows, shoulder seasons for mild highs and lows, peak summer for July-driven heat, or deep winter for January-driven cold. All figures here are thirty-year averages: any single year may run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal, so treat them as planning guidance rather than forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Swannanoa, NC? ▼
The average annual temperature in Swannanoa, North Carolina is 51°F. The warmest month averages 76°F (24°C) and the coldest averages 25°F (-4°C).
How much rain does Swannanoa get? ▼
Swannanoa receives 53.0 inches of precipitation annually, including 28.5 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Swannanoa? ▼
Swannanoa has a climate comfort score of 53/100 (Moderate), milder than 26% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Swannanoa? ▼
Swannanoa has approximately 185 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 22 and the first fall freeze around October 24.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Swannanoa? ▼
Swannanoa has 5,274 heating degree days and 325 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 Swannanoa climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00318448 near Swannanoa.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00318448. 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.