NOAA climate atlas · updated August 2026
North Carolina Climate Data
Climate normals for 178 station-mapped locations, each from its primary station in North Carolina's 407-station NOAA network.
- average temperature
- 59°F (15°C)59.1°F · fleet p50 52.2°F · n=50
- Warmer than median
- annual precipitation
- 52.2"52.2 inches · fleet p50 43.7 inches · n=50
- Wetter national band
- annual snowfall
- 6.9"6.9 inches · fleet p50 24.7 inches · n=50
- Low-snow national band
- locations / stations
- 178 / 407State coverage: 178 locations / 407 stations. Benchmark context: this profile's measured location and NOAA-station counts.
- State coverage
North Carolina's climate in one line
North Carolina averages 59°F a year - warmer than 74% of U.S. states, spanning Mt Mitchell at 43°F to Cedar Island at 67°F.
- 59°F
- statewide average · 74th percentile of states
- 52"
- average annual precipitation
- 97/100
- most comfortable: Manteo
- 178
- station-mapped locations · 407 NOAA stations
Statewide figures are simple averages across 178 station-mapped locations (each from its primary NOAA station), local conditions vary widely by elevation and coast distance.
How North Carolina ranks among all 50 states
North Carolina's average temperature vs. all U.S. states
Statewide annual mean temperature, NOAA 1991–2020 normals
59°F Top 26% warmer than 74% of 50 U.S. states
- 30°F–35°F: 1 US states (2%). Below this entry.
- 35°F–40°F: 0 US states (0%). Below this entry.
- 40°F–45°F: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry.
- 45°F–50°F: 10 US states (20%). Below this entry.
- 50°F–55°F: 12 US states (24%). Below this entry.
- 55°F–60°F: 8 US states (16%). This entry sits in this band.
- 60°F–65°F: 7 US states (14%). Above this entry.
- 65°F–70°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
- 70°F–75°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (statewide aggregate) · 1991–2020
North Carolina in the national rankings
- Ranks #13 hottest of 50 states at 59.1°F annual average, 6.0°F above the 53.1°F mean of all state averages - see all 50 hottest states ranked by NOAA normals
- In winter (Dec–Feb) it averages 42.1°F, the #11 warmest winter of 50 states - winter ranking
- 36.6% of NOAA hourly observations report clear sky (9 measured locations), the #35 clearest of 47 ranked states - sunniest states by clear-sky frequency
Temperature × precipitation · 50-state landscape
North Carolina in the national climate landscape
North Carolina averages 59.1°F and 52.2 inches of annual precipitation across 178 station-mapped locations. Against the same complete 50-state cohort, that places it in the warmer and wetter half of the chart. Dashed lines mark the national medians of 52.3°F and 43.7 inches.
Read all 50 state values
Each point is PlainClimate's simple average across the station-mapped location normals available for that state. Cohort sizes vary and are shown below; the values are not population weighted. Dashed lines mark the median of this 50-state comparison and are guides, not comfort or safety thresholds.
| State | Locations | Annual mean | Annual precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 172 | 33.5°F | 47.6 in |
| Alabama | 100 | 63.3°F | 57.9 in |
| Arkansas | 110 | 60.7°F | 52.2 in |
| Arizona | 169 | 62.3°F | 12.4 in |
| California | 363 | 59.8°F | 21.6 in |
| Colorado | 214 | 46.3°F | 15.9 in |
| Connecticut | 23 | 50.1°F | 48.6 in |
| Delaware | 7 | 56.2°F | 46.8 in |
| Florida | 165 | 72.6°F | 55.2 in |
| Georgia | 122 | 63.4°F | 52.0 in |
| Hawaii | 49 | 72.4°F | 48.5 in |
| Iowa | 143 | 48.0°F | 35.9 in |
| Idaho | 139 | 46.1°F | 18.0 in |
| Illinois | 163 | 52.2°F | 40.7 in |
| Indiana | 116 | 52.4°F | 43.7 in |
| Kansas | 168 | 54.8°F | 31.2 in |
| Kentucky | 95 | 56.2°F | 50.6 in |
| Louisiana | 91 | 67.3°F | 60.3 in |
| Massachusetts | 68 | 49.2°F | 48.2 in |
| Maryland | 42 | 55.6°F | 45.5 in |
| Maine | 79 | 43.1°F | 46.4 in |
| Michigan | 201 | 45.5°F | 34.2 in |
| Minnesota | 172 | 42.2°F | 30.0 in |
| Missouri | 164 | 55.1°F | 43.9 in |
| Mississippi | 91 | 64.1°F | 59.7 in |
| Montana | 215 | 43.4°F | 15.9 in |
| North Carolina | 178 | 59.1°F | 52.2 in |
| North Dakota | 119 | 41.0°F | 19.2 in |
| Nebraska | 171 | 49.6°F | 25.0 in |
| New Hampshire | 52 | 44.5°F | 46.6 in |
| New Jersey | 45 | 53.6°F | 47.9 in |
| New Mexico | 167 | 54.3°F | 13.8 in |
| Nevada | 115 | 52.4°F | 8.9 in |
| New York | 173 | 47.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Ohio | 128 | 51.6°F | 41.1 in |
| Oklahoma | 159 | 60.3°F | 35.7 in |
| Oregon | 180 | 50.5°F | 37.6 in |
| Pennsylvania | 157 | 50.2°F | 45.2 in |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 51.2°F | 48.7 in |
| South Carolina | 100 | 62.8°F | 49.8 in |
| South Dakota | 149 | 45.6°F | 21.8 in |
| Tennessee | 146 | 58.0°F | 56.0 in |
| Texas | 449 | 66.2°F | 31.1 in |
| Utah | 170 | 49.4°F | 13.9 in |
| Virginia | 119 | 55.8°F | 46.0 in |
| Vermont | 41 | 43.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Washington | 149 | 49.9°F | 40.9 in |
| Wisconsin | 200 | 44.5°F | 34.6 in |
| West Virginia | 99 | 52.3°F | 47.6 in |
| Wyoming | 144 | 43.3°F | 14.0 in |
Derived by PlainClimate from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals · simple averages across each state's varying station-mapped-location cohort · data updated August 2026.
North Carolina Climate in Context
U.S. land-mean temperature anomaly (NOAA NCEI) tracked against global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP). Paris Agreement 1.5°C and 2.0°C thresholds shown as reference lines. North Carolina sits within this national warming envelope; individual station-mapped locations below show local readings against this trend.
- United States (incl. North Carolina) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Station-mapped locations in North Carolina
178 locations with climate data
Scroll the table to browse every location, or use the complete CSV and JSON exports below.
| Location | Avg Temp | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | 60°F | 71°F | 50°F | 48.3" | 0.8" | 93/100 |
| Andrews | 57°F | 70°F | 44°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Apex | 60°F | 71°F | 50°F | 48.3" | 4.8" | 93/100 |
| Arcola | 60°F | 72°F | 48°F | 47.7" | 5.5" | 78/100 |
| Asheboro | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 46.6" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Asheville | 57°F | 68°F | 47°F | 40.6" | 11.5" | 78/100 |
| Asheville Rgnl | 57°F | 68°F | 46°F | 49.6" | 10.3" | 78/100 |
| Atlantic Beach Wtp | 64°F | 71°F | 58°F | 59.0" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Aurora | 63°F | 72°F | 55°F | 51.6" | 0.2" | 87/100 |
| Banner Elk | 50°F | 60°F | 40°F | 53.8" | 31.4" | 49/100 |
| Bayboro | 62°F | 72°F | 51°F | 58.8" | 1.1" | 83/100 |
| Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld | 64°F | 72°F | 56°F | 55.7" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Beech Mtn | 46°F | 53°F | 39°F | 57.8" | 66.5" | 44/100 |
| Belhaven | 62°F | 72°F | 51°F | 52.3" | 1.2" | 83/100 |
| Bent Creek | 54°F | 66°F | 42°F | 52.0" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Black Mtn | 55°F | 67°F | 44°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Blowing Rock | 50°F | 59°F | 41°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Boone | 50°F | 61°F | 39°F | 59.1" | 25.6" | 49/100 |
| Brevard | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 75.6" | 7.1" | 58/100 |
| Bryson City | 56°F | 67°F | 44°F | 58.6" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Burlington Alamance | 61°F | 72°F | 49°F | 43.3" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Burlington Fire Stn | 61°F | 71°F | 50°F | 47.1" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Burnsville Ag | 54°F | 65°F | 43°F | 45.9" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Candler | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 45.0" | 10.3" | 78/100 |
| Cane Creek Rsvr | 59°F | 70°F | 47°F | 47.0" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Cape Hatteras | 65°F | 72°F | 58°F | 61.2" | N/A | 73/100 |
| Carthage Wtp | 61°F | 72°F | 49°F | 47.8" | 1.3" | 93/100 |
| Cary | 60°F | 70°F | 49°F | 48.8" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Cataloochee | 53°F | 65°F | 40°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Catawba | 60°F | 70°F | 50°F | 46.6" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Cedar Island | 67°F | 77°F | 56°F | 59.5" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Celo | 52°F | 63°F | 41°F | 64.3" | 12.7" | 44/100 |
| Chapel Hill | 60°F | 71°F | 49°F | 48.9" | 2.8" | 83/100 |
| Chapel Hill Williams | 61°F | 71°F | 50°F | 43.6" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Charlotte | 61°F | 72°F | 51°F | 43.6" | 3.5" | 93/100 |
| Chatham Wtp | 60°F | 72°F | 49°F | 49.9" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Cherokee | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 56.7" | 6.5" | 68/100 |
| Cherry Point Mcas | 64°F | 74°F | 54°F | 57.4" | 0.8" | 87/100 |
| Clayton | 61°F | 72°F | 49°F | 49.9" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Clayton Wtp | 60°F | 71°F | 48°F | 52.1" | 3.2" | 73/100 |
| Clinton | 62°F | 72°F | 51°F | 51.0" | 1.8" | 83/100 |
| Columbia Ag Gum Neck | 61°F | 71°F | 51°F | 55.3" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Concord | 61°F | 73°F | 48°F | 47.9" | 3.3" | 93/100 |
| Coweeta Exp Stn | 57°F | 70°F | 43°F | 72.2" | 2.6" | 59/100 |
| Cullowhee | 56°F | 69°F | 44°F | 54.2" | 4.3" | 73/100 |
| Danbury | 58°F | 69°F | 47°F | 47.4" | 8.7" | 78/100 |
| Dunn | 62°F | 74°F | 51°F | 50.1" | 2.1" | 83/100 |
| Durham | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 46.7" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Eden | 58°F | 70°F | 45°F | 47.1" | 4.5" | 83/100 |
| Edenton | 62°F | 71°F | 53°F | 51.0" | 2.3" | 83/100 |
| Elizabeth City | 62°F | 72°F | 53°F | 51.3" | 0.2" | 83/100 |
| Elizabeth City Cgas | 61°F | 71°F | 52°F | 46.5" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Elizabethtown | 62°F | 74°F | 51°F | 53.3" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Elkin | 56°F | 69°F | 43°F | 49.0" | 3.0" | 83/100 |
| Enka | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 46.4" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Fairfield | 60°F | 72°F | 48°F | 54.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Falls Lake | 58°F | 69°F | 47°F | 47.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Fayetteville | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 47.9" | 1.2" | 93/100 |
| Fayetteville Rgnl | 63°F | 74°F | 52°F | 44.6" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Flat Springs | 52°F | 61°F | 43°F | 49.0" | 48.2" | 63/100 |
| Fletcher | 55°F | 67°F | 43°F | 53.9" | 9.1" | 68/100 |
| Forest City | 59°F | 71°F | 46°F | 52.1" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Franklin | 56°F | 68°F | 44°F | 55.5" | 2.6" | 73/100 |
| Frisco | 64°F | 71°F | 58°F | 61.6" | N/A | 73/100 |
| Garner | 59°F | 71°F | 47°F | 50.7" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Gastonia | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 44.0" | 1.2" | 93/100 |
| Gastonia Muni | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 43.3" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Goldsboro | 63°F | 74°F | 53°F | 52.3" | 2.0" | 87/100 |
| Goldsboro Ag | 61°F | 71°F | 51°F | 52.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Grandfather Mtn | 48°F | 55°F | 40°F | 64.8" | N/A | 40/100 |
| Greensboro Wtp | 60°F | 70°F | 49°F | 45.9" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Greenville | 62°F | 73°F | 52°F | 53.4" | 3.3" | 83/100 |
| Hamlet | 63°F | 74°F | 52°F | 49.5" | 0.5" | 93/100 |
| Haw Rvr | 60°F | 71°F | 48°F | 47.2" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Hayesville | 56°F | 68°F | 43°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Henderson | 58°F | 71°F | 45°F | 48.6" | 1.6" | 83/100 |
| Hendersonville | 56°F | 67°F | 45°F | 59.0" | 6.7" | 68/100 |
| Hickory Faa | 59°F | 69°F | 49°F | 47.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| High Point | 61°F | 72°F | 50°F | 48.3" | 1.9" | 93/100 |
| Highlands | 51°F | 61°F | 41°F | 88.3" | 10.2" | 44/100 |
| Hofmann Forest | 60°F | 72°F | 49°F | 60.3" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Hot Springs | 58°F | 69°F | 47°F | 46.7" | 6.1" | 78/100 |
| Jackson | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 50.9" | 5.0" | 68/100 |
| Jackson Springs | 62°F | 72°F | 51°F | 48.1" | 3.3" | 93/100 |
| Jacksonville Eoc | 63°F | 74°F | 51°F | 58.9" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Jefferson | 51°F | 63°F | 39°F | 51.0" | 14.4" | 54/100 |
| Kinston | 61°F | 73°F | 50°F | 53.0" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Kinston Ag Rsch | 64°F | 74°F | 53°F | 52.9" | 0.7" | 83/100 |
| Lake Lure | 59°F | 71°F | 47°F | 59.3" | 3.1" | 73/100 |
| Lake Toxaway | 54°F | 64°F | 45°F | 96.3" | 11.6" | 48/100 |
| Laurinburg | 64°F | 75°F | 52°F | 46.6" | 1.1" | 93/100 |
| Laurinburg Maxton | 63°F | 75°F | 52°F | 40.2" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Lenoir | 58°F | 69°F | 46°F | 49.7" | 4.1" | 83/100 |
| Lewiston | 61°F | 71°F | 51°F | 49.5" | 0.6" | 93/100 |
| Lexington | 59°F | 72°F | 47°F | 45.5" | 3.3" | 83/100 |
| Lillington | 60°F | 72°F | 49°F | 46.6" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Lincolnton | 60°F | 71°F | 49°F | 49.5" | 5.6" | 78/100 |
| Longwood | 63°F | 73°F | 53°F | 57.0" | 0.5" | 83/100 |
| Louisburg | 59°F | 72°F | 47°F | 48.3" | 1.7" | 83/100 |
| Lumber Rvr State Park | 62°F | 73°F | 50°F | 51.4" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Lumberton | 63°F | 74°F | 52°F | 50.8" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Lumberton Muni | 64°F | 74°F | 53°F | 42.6" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Manteo | 62°F | 69°F | 55°F | 46.5" | 1.1" | 97/100 |
| Marion | 58°F | 68°F | 48°F | 56.6" | 7.1" | 68/100 |
| Marshall | 54°F | 68°F | 41°F | 41.6" | 25.6" | 59/100 |
| Mocksville | 57°F | 70°F | 45°F | 46.9" | 4.5" | 83/100 |
| Monroe | 61°F | 72°F | 50°F | 37.9" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Moores Creek NB | 63°F | 75°F | 51°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Morehead City | 63°F | 71°F | 55°F | 61.2" | 0.5" | 77/100 |
| Morganton | 58°F | 70°F | 46°F | 51.5" | 4.5" | 73/100 |
| Mt Airy | 56°F | 68°F | 43°F | 50.5" | 8.2" | 68/100 |
| Mt Mitchell | 43°F | 51°F | 35°F | 81.1" | 89.1" | 24/100 |
| Mt Olive | 61°F | 72°F | 50°F | 49.4" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Murfreesboro | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 49.6" | 2.6" | 83/100 |
| Murphy | 57°F | 70°F | 44°F | 59.3" | 4.4" | 73/100 |
| N Fork | 56°F | 67°F | 45°F | 53.8" | 2.1" | 73/100 |
| N Wilkesboro | 57°F | 69°F | 46°F | 51.7" | 5.6" | 68/100 |
| New Bern Craven County | 63°F | 73°F | 52°F | 53.0" | N/A | 80/100 |
| New Hill | 59°F | 71°F | 47°F | 47.1" | N/A | 80/100 |
| New River Mcaf | 64°F | 74°F | 54°F | 56.5" | 0.6" | 83/100 |
| Newport/morehead City | 62°F | 72°F | 52°F | 60.6" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Ocracoke | 63°F | 69°F | 57°F | 58.3" | 1.7" | 87/100 |
| Old Fort Ag | 56°F | 68°F | 43°F | 55.9" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Oxford Ag | 59°F | 69°F | 49°F | 46.6" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Perrytown | 63°F | 73°F | 53°F | 57.2" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Pfafftown | 58°F | 70°F | 46°F | 47.3" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Piedmont Triad | 60°F | 70°F | 49°F | 44.0" | 7.1" | 78/100 |
| Pisgah Forest | 56°F | 68°F | 43°F | 65.0" | 6.7" | 58/100 |
| Plymouth | 62°F | 73°F | 52°F | 54.6" | 1.4" | 83/100 |
| Raeford | 60°F | 72°F | 49°F | 48.6" | 2.8" | 93/100 |
| Raleigh | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 50.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Raleigh Durham | 61°F | 72°F | 51°F | 46.1" | 5.2" | 88/100 |
| Raleigh State Univ | 61°F | 72°F | 51°F | 49.4" | 4.5" | 93/100 |
| Randleman | 59°F | 70°F | 47°F | 45.5" | 4.6" | 83/100 |
| Reelsboro | 63°F | 74°F | 53°F | 56.8" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Reidsville | 58°F | 69°F | 48°F | 47.8" | 7.3" | 78/100 |
| Richlands | 61°F | 73°F | 49°F | 55.5" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Roanoke Rapids | 61°F | 71°F | 50°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Robbinsville Ag | 55°F | 66°F | 44°F | 63.6" | N/A | 56/100 |
| Rocky Mt | 60°F | 71°F | 49°F | 48.6" | 2.8" | 83/100 |
| Rocky Mt Wilson | 61°F | 72°F | 49°F | 44.4" | N/A | 92/100 |
| Roxboro | 58°F | 71°F | 45°F | 47.3" | 3.4" | 83/100 |
| Rural Hall | 57°F | 68°F | 47°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Salisbury | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 43.7" | 2.4" | 83/100 |
| Sanford | 61°F | 73°F | 49°F | 46.9" | 2.4" | 93/100 |
| Shallotte Ag | 63°F | 72°F | 55°F | 56.5" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Shelby | 59°F | 72°F | 46°F | 50.4" | 4.0" | 73/100 |
| Siler City | 59°F | 70°F | 49°F | 45.9" | 1.5" | 83/100 |
| Smithfield | 62°F | 73°F | 50°F | 49.4" | 0.8" | 93/100 |
| Snow Hill Waste Water Treament | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 50.6" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Southport | 65°F | 77°F | 54°F | 54.6" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Sparta | 53°F | 64°F | 41°F | 57.1" | 18.6" | 58/100 |
| Spruce Pine | 53°F | 64°F | 41°F | 57.2" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Statesville | 57°F | 69°F | 46°F | 46.6" | 4.9" | 83/100 |
| Surf City | 62°F | 72°F | 52°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Swannanoa | 51°F | 60°F | 43°F | 53.0" | 28.5" | 53/100 |
| Swanquarter Ferry | 63°F | 72°F | 54°F | 53.4" | N/A | 85/100 |
| Tapoco | 57°F | 68°F | 45°F | 56.1" | N/A | 68/100 |
| Tarboro | 60°F | 71°F | 50°F | 47.6" | 4.8" | 93/100 |
| Taylorsville | 58°F | 69°F | 48°F | 52.6" | 3.8" | 73/100 |
| Transou | 50°F | 61°F | 39°F | 58.7" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Tryon | 60°F | 69°F | 50°F | 64.3" | 4.9" | 63/100 |
| Vale Ag | 58°F | 70°F | 45°F | 50.6" | N/A | 68/100 |
| W Kerr Scott Resv | 58°F | 70°F | 46°F | 52.5" | 7.6" | 68/100 |
| Wadesboro | 62°F | 73°F | 51°F | 47.8" | 3.2" | 93/100 |
| Wallace | 62°F | 74°F | 50°F | 57.2" | 0.7" | 83/100 |
| Warsaw | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 52.0" | 2.0" | 73/100 |
| Washington Wwtp | 62°F | 72°F | 52°F | 53.0" | 1.2" | 83/100 |
| Waterville | 58°F | 69°F | 47°F | 53.9" | 5.6" | 68/100 |
| Waynesville | 53°F | 65°F | 41°F | 50.2" | 10.9" | 54/100 |
| Whiteville | 62°F | 73°F | 50°F | 50.9" | 1.2" | 83/100 |
| Willard | 62°F | 73°F | 50°F | 55.9" | 0.8" | 83/100 |
| Williamston | 61°F | 71°F | 52°F | 53.2" | 0.5" | 83/100 |
| Wilmington | 64°F | 74°F | 54°F | 60.1" | 0.9" | 77/100 |
| Wilson | 62°F | 72°F | 51°F | 50.3" | 1.9" | 83/100 |
| Winston Salem Rynlds | 60°F | 69°F | 50°F | 43.2" | N/A | 80/100 |
| Yadkinville | 57°F | 68°F | 45°F | 46.6" | 7.0" | 78/100 |
| Yanceyville | 59°F | 70°F | 48°F | 48.1" | 8.8" | 78/100 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 · 1991-2020 Statewide aggregates for North Carolina computed as the simple average across its 178 station-mapped locations, each represented by its primary NOAA station (407 stations in the state network).
Climate Insight: North Carolina
North Carolina's climate profile is aggregated from 178 station-mapped locations and 407 NOAA weather stations reporting under the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals program. The statewide average annual temperature sits at 59°F, which is the simple average across all tracked station-mapped locations rather than any single station's reading. Because North Carolina spans multiple latitudes, elevations, and proximities to large water bodies, local conditions can differ from this headline number by wide margins; coastal, valley, and mountain stations often diverge by ten degrees or more even within a single month.
Precipitation and snowfall averages round out the climatological picture. Across North Carolina, annual precipitation averages 52.2 inches, with typical seasonal snowfall near 6.9 inches statewide. These numbers combine rain, sleet, and snow water-equivalent and describe the thirty-year normal rather than any particular recent year. Readers evaluating a specific destination should drill into one of the 178 individual location profiles below; each station record varies with local geography, and the statewide figures here are averages that mask meaningful intrastate differences.
For planning purposes, the location table above is sorted to help you compare averages side-by-side: annual mean temperature, average daily high and low, precipitation totals, snowfall, and PlainClimate's climate comfort score. That 1–100 score combines temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, snowfall burden, and frost-free growing-season length from each location's NOAA normal. It is a climate-only comparison, not a NOAA or overall livability rating. Use it as a starting point, then open each location profile for the exact score inputs, monthly breakdowns, degree-day totals, frost dates, and separately reported humidity metrics.
Nationwide similar states
Other states closest to North Carolina on two NOAA statewide-average axes (annual temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.
Closest by average temperature
Nearest 50-state peers by avg_temp (59°F here).
- California 60°F · 0.7°F off
- Tennessee 58°F · 1.1°F off
- Oklahoma 60°F · 1.2°F off
- Arkansas 61°F · 1.6°F off
Closest by annual precipitation
Nearest peers by avg_precip (52.2" here), excluding temperature-peer codes.
- Georgia 52.0" · 0.2" off
- Kentucky 50.6" · 1.6" off
- South Carolina 49.8" · 2.4" off
- Florida 55.2" · 3.0" off
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in North Carolina? ▼
Does the climate vary a lot within North Carolina? ▼
Where does North Carolina rank nationally for temperature? ▼
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Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.