Winter
Dec → Feb11 to 13°
nights 0 to 2°
- 7 rainy days · 87 mm
When is the best time to visit Raleigh?
- Jan11°not recommended
- Feb13°not recommended
- Mar17°fair
- Apr22°recommended
- May27°recommended
- Jun31°fair
- Jul33°not recommended
- Aug32°fair
- Sep28°recommended
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov17°fair
- Dec13°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Raleigh, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11° | 0° | 93 mm | 7 d | |
| February | 13° | 1° | 73 mm | 7 d | |
| March | 17° | 5° | 106 mm | 7 d | |
| April | 22° | 9° | 92 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| May | 27° | 14° | 101 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| June | 31° | 19° | 124 mm | 8 d | |
| July | 33° | 21° | 118 mm | 8 d | |
| August | 32° | 20° | 120 mm | 7 d | |
| September | 28° | 17° | 145 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| October | 23° | 11° | 99 mm | 5 d | ✓ |
| November | 17° | 5° | 89 mm | 6 d | |
| December | 13° | 2° | 94 mm | 7 d |
The four seasons in Raleigh, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (Raleigh (NC State)) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May17 to 27°
nights 5 to 14°
- 7 rainy days · 100 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug31 to 33°
nights 19 to 21°
- 8 rainy days · 121 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov17 to 28°
nights 5 to 17°
- 6 rainy days · 111 mm
Book early for April to May and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Raleigh, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h34 of daylight, in December 9h44, a difference of 4h50.
9h59Jan
10h50Feb
11h52Mar
13h03Apr
14h03May
14h34Jun
14h21Jul
13h30Aug
12h21Sep
11h12Oct
10h13Nov
9h44Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Raleigh (NC State)" (35.79°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Raleigh, month by month
What to see and do
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended11°0° at night
- 93 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended13°1° at night
- 73 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair17°5° at night
- 106 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended22°9° at night
- 92 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended27°14° at night
- 101 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair31°19° at night
- 124 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended33°21° at night
- 118 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair32°20° at night
- 120 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended28°17° at night
- 145 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended23°11° at night
- 99 mm · 5 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair17°5° at night
- 89 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended13°2° at night
- 94 mm · 7 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 11 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Rain stays light: 93 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 13 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Rain stays light: 73 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 106 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 92 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 27 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Rain stays light: 101 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 31 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (124 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (118 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 20 °C at night. Rain stays light: 120 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Rain stays light: 145 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 99 mm over 5 days. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 89 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 13 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 94 mm over 7 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Raleigh?
April to May and September to October: over these months, average highs range from 22 to 28 °C, with 6 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, Raleigh (NC State)).
Which month should you avoid in Raleigh?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 118 mm over 8 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (Raleigh (NC State)).
What is the hottest month in Raleigh?
July, with 33 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Raleigh (NC State)).
What is the coldest month in Raleigh?
January, with 11 °C at best during the day and 0 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Raleigh (NC State)).
What is the driest month in Raleigh?
February: 73 mm over 7 days of rain, against 145 mm in September, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Raleigh?
The gap between day and night reaches 13 °C in April: 22 °C in the afternoon, 9 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Raleigh guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Mark Turner / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · RadioFan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · James Willamor from Raleigh, NC, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Discover Durham / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Precisionviews, retouches Cmao20 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Renan Bomtempo / Pexels · Bz3rk / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · James Willamor / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Willthacheerleader18 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)