Cary, North Carolina Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Cary weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——88°55°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——93°63°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——91°62°-2°
- SundayJun 7Overcast30%—96°64°+5°
- MondayJun 8Showers32%—87°66°-9°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast14%—84°60°-3°
- WednesdayJun 10Overcast16%—85°58°+1°
PM2.5 at 7.2 µg/m³ (AQI 40) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 22 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 7.2 µg/m³ (AQI 40) with a 0.91 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.91
- 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
- 3:30 AM
- Moonset
- 1:27 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Cary at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 19°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
July stands as Cary's warmest month (~80°F mean) while January claims the coldest (~42°F). September brings peak rainfall (5.7 inches) and February delivers the driest conditions (2.9 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42° | 3.6″ | 7 |
| February | 44° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| March | 51° | 4.2″ | 7 |
| April | 61° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| May | 69° | 4.0″ | 6 |
| June | 77° | 4.9″ | 7 |
| July | 80° | 4.7″ | 7 |
| August | 79° | 4.7″ | 7 |
| September | 73° | 5.7″ | 6 |
| October | 62° | 3.9″ | 5 |
| November | 52° | 3.5″ | 5 |
| December | 45° | 3.7″ | 6 |
Regional context
Located within a humid subtropical climate region, Cary shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the arrival of migrating ruby-throated hummingbirds to North Carolina feeders and flowering plants.
Dogwood trees typically finish their spectacular white bloom period by early May across the Piedmont region.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Cary?
- Spring's last frost typically occurs around mid-March in Cary, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Cary?
- September ranks as the wettest month with about 5.7 inches of rain on average, contributing to the city's roughly 49 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Cary?
- July typically registers as the warmest month, averaging about 80°F.
- What is the coldest month in Cary?
- January typically records as the coldest month, averaging about 42°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Cary?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-March), while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Cary get?
- Cary experiences about 74 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Cary?
- Cary's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. Check the USDA's online lookup tool with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Cary, North Carolina experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 42°F while July averages 80°F, creating a 39°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 49 inches across roughly 74 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes Cary's weather patterns through its latitude (35.8°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows here, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.