Winston-Salem, North Carolina Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Winston-Salem weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——87°53°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——92°61°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——89°65°-3°
- SundayJun 7Drizzle10%—93°67°+4°
- MondayJun 8Drizzle23%—87°70°-6°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast16%—82°63°-5°
- WednesdayJun 10Overcast15%—89°60°+7°
Ozone at AQI 95 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. AQI up 52 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 95 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.
- Present
- AQI 95
- UV peak
- 1.1 at earlier today
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 95
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
- 3:37 AM
- Moonset
- 1:32 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Winston-Salem at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 7°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 24 (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 | — | — |
| 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 Winston-Salem's warmest temperatures (~79°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~40°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in August (4.5 inches) and drops to its lowest point in February (2.9 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| February | 43° | 2.9″ | 6 |
| March | 50° | 3.6″ | 7 |
| April | 59° | 3.7″ | 7 |
| May | 68° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| June | 75° | 3.6″ | 7 |
| July | 79° | 4.2″ | 8 |
| August | 77° | 4.5″ | 7 |
| September | 71° | 3.9″ | 6 |
| October | 60° | 3.3″ | 5 |
| November | 50° | 3.1″ | 5 |
| December | 43° | 3.3″ | 6 |
Regional context
Winston-Salem falls within a humid subtropical climate region — part of a group that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC, Fayetteville, NC.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the arrival of migrating ruby-throated hummingbirds to Winston-Salem's gardens and feeders.
Dogwood trees typically reach full bloom across the city during mid-April.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Winston-Salem?
- Winston-Salem's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Winston-Salem?
- August is the wettest month with about 4.5 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 43 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Winston-Salem?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 79°F.
- What is the coldest month in Winston-Salem?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 40°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Winston-Salem?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Winston-Salem get?
- Winston-Salem averages about 76 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Winston-Salem?
- Winston-Salem'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
Winston-Salem, North Carolina experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 40°F while July averages 79°F — a 39°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Winston-Salem receives about 43 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 76 rainy days.
Latitude (36.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation determine the rhythm of the year — shaping what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.