Burlington, North Carolina Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 76 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Burlington weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Clear——80°47°—
- ThursdayJun 4Clear——87°56°+7°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——91°60°+4°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——90°62°-1°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers34%—94°64°+4°
- MondayJun 8Light Showers34%—80°65°-14°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast17%—83°51°+3°
Ozone at AQI 63 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. AQI up 30 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Levels should ease through evening.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 63 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 63
- UV peak
- 1.0 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 63
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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 2:54 AM
- Moonset
- 12:28 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Burlington at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 80°F — typical for the season
- Last frost: March 23 (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 3, 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 | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Burlington's peak heat with mean temperatures around 80°F, while January delivers the year's coldest conditions at roughly 41°F. September typically produces the most rainfall at 4.9 inches, with November marking the driest period at 3.2 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 4.0″ | 13 |
| February | 44° | 3.2″ | 11 |
| March | 51° | 4.4″ | 15 |
| April | 60° | 3.8″ | 13 |
| May | 68° | 3.6″ | 12 |
| June | 76° | 4.6″ | 15 |
| July | 80° | 4.4″ | 15 |
| August | 78° | 4.1″ | 14 |
| September | 72° | 4.9″ | 16 |
| October | 61° | 3.4″ | 11 |
| November | 51° | 3.2″ | 11 |
| December | 44° | 3.4″ | 11 |
Regional context
Burlington falls within the humid subtropical climate region, sharing comparable temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with surrounding cities in this zone.
Similar climates: Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the distinctive calls of wood thrushes echoing through Burlington's woodlands as these migratory songbirds establish their breeding territories.
Dogwood trees typically reach full bloom across the area during mid-April, their white bracts creating a striking display before the canopy leafs out completely.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Burlington?
- Burlington's final spring frost usually occurs around mid-April, with the first fall frost returning around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Burlington?
- September ranks as the wettest month, delivering approximately 4.9 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's annual total of roughly 47 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Burlington?
- July typically registers as the warmest month, with average temperatures around 80°F.
- What is the coldest month in Burlington?
- January usually marks the coldest period, averaging about 41°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Burlington?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Burlington get?
- Burlington experiences approximately 157 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Burlington?
- Burlington's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Burlington, North Carolina experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures typically hover near 41°F, while July averages reach 80°F — creating a 38°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 47 inches across roughly 157 rainy days throughout the year.
Geographic factors like latitude (36.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation determine the local growing patterns, frost timing, and daily weather patterns.