, with relatively cold winters and hot, muggy summers, during which there are quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the southeastern United States, 180 km (110 miles) away from the Atlantic coast. Nearby are the cities of Durham and Chapel Hill, which together with Raleigh constitute the so-called Triangle.
of the coldest month (January) is of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 26.9 °C (80.5 °F).
, from December to February, is quite cold, however, different situations arise. There are mild periods, in which subtropical air masses prevail, and the temperature can even exceed 20 °C (68 °F).
occurs every year or so, even though you have to wait a few years to see a heavy snowfall. On average, 13 centimeters (5 inches) of snow fall per year. The most abundant snowfall in one day was 45.5 cm (18 in), in January 2000.
, from June to August, is hot and muggy, with an often unpleasant combination of temperature and humidity. The sun shines quite often, although cloud coverings can form, which can produce thunderstorms.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). The record of the last decades is 40.5 °C (105 °F), recorded in August 1988, in late June and in early July 2012.
or their remnants. Hurricane season runs from June to November, although the period in which they are most likely is from August to October. The city is far enough away from the coast, so it is not hit by hurricanes at their peak, while the North Carolina coast can be hard hit, as was the case with Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 and with Hurricane Florence in September 2018.
, from March to May and from September to November, the weather is variable. The rains are quite frequent, although there can be rainless periods of a week. In March and November, there can be cold air outbreaks, while in April and October they are rare. In May and September, there can be hot periods, with summer-like temperatures.
On the beaches of North Carolina, the sea is warm enough for swimming from May to October. In winter, the sea is cold but not impossible for the daring.
to visit Raleigh are spring and autumn, to avoid both the winter cold and the summer heat, and in particular, the months of April and October.
In autumn (usually, around late October), you can admire the beautiful colors of the trees losing their leaves (the phenomenon called
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.5 °C, with a minimum of
-0.1 °C and a maximum of
11.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.2 °C in January 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
10.5 kph.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.2 °C, with a minimum of
1.2 °C and a maximum of
13.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-17.8 °C in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23.5 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11 °C, with a minimum of
4.6 °C and a maximum of
17.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
31.7 °C in March 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
9.4 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.9 °C in April 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33.3 °C in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is of
12.4 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.5 °C, with a minimum of
14.3 °C and a maximum of
26.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in May 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
24.8 °C, with a minimum of
18.9 °C and a maximum of
30.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
6.7 °C in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
9.8 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.9 °C, with a minimum of
21.2 °C and a maximum of
32.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in July 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in July 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
130 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26 °C, with a minimum of
20.5 °C and a maximum of
31.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
10.6 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
40.6 °C in August 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
120 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.6 kph.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
22.6 °C, with a minimum of
17.1 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in September 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in September 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
130 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.5 °C, with a minimum of
10.2 °C and a maximum of
22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.2 °C in October 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
37.8 °C in October 2019.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.8 °C, with a minimum of
4.4 °C and a maximum of
17.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.8 °C in November 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7 °C, with a minimum of
1.3 °C and a maximum of
12.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.1 °C in December 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
27.2 °C in December 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.