Bethlehem, North Carolina Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Bethlehem weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——85°52°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——91°60°+6°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——88°61°-3°
- SundayJun 7Overcast14%—92°63°+4°
- MondayJun 8Drizzle25%—83°67°-9°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast25%—67°62°-16°
- WednesdayJun 10Light Drizzle18%—83°64°+16°
PM2.5 at 6.8 µg/m³ (AQI 38) with a 0.97 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 20 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 6.8 µg/m³ (AQI 38) with a 0.97 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.97
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 3:41 AM
- Moonset
- 1:37 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Bethlehem at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 24°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 22 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Bethlehem's warmest month is July (~78°F mean) and its coldest is January (~40°F). Rainfall peaks in August (4.6 inches) and bottoms out in February (3.2 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| February | 43° | 3.2″ | 6 |
| March | 50° | 4.1″ | 7 |
| April | 59° | 4.1″ | 7 |
| May | 67° | 3.9″ | 7 |
| June | 74° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| July | 78° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| August | 76° | 4.6″ | 7 |
| September | 70° | 3.9″ | 6 |
| October | 60° | 3.5″ | 4 |
| November | 49° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| December | 42° | 3.9″ | 6 |
Regional context
Bethlehem sits within a humid subtropical climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Bethlehem?
- Bethlehem's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Bethlehem?
- August is the wettest month with about 4.6 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 47 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Bethlehem?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 78°F.
- What is the coldest month in Bethlehem?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 40°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Bethlehem?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Bethlehem get?
- Bethlehem averages about 76 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Bethlehem?
- Bethlehem's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Bethlehem, North Carolina sits in a humid subtropical climate zone. January means hover near 40°F while July averages 78°F — a 38°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Bethlehem receives about 47 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 76 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (35.8°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.