Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Cary, North Carolina Weather

Heat settles and the rain begins. Day 89 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Cary weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Cary, NC
Tuesday, June 16 at 4:27 AM
66
°
Overcast
Feels like
65°
Humidity
59%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
1:58 AM
Sunset
4:33 PM
Cary, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCary, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 88°
Cary, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jun 16
    Overcast
    —
    —
    88°65°—
  2. Wednesday
    Jun 17
    Overcast
    —
    —
    93°71°+5°
  3. Thursday
    Jun 18
    Overcast
    33%
    —
    98°74°+5°
  4. Friday
    Jun 19
    Thunderstorm
    65%
    0.01″
    90°71°-8°
  5. Saturday
    Jun 20
    Overcast
    38%
    —
    87°62°-3°
  6. Sunday
    Jun 21
    Overcast
    15%
    —
    92°61°+5°
  7. Monday
    Jun 22
    Light Drizzle
    32%
    0.06″
    94°72°+2°
Cary, NC
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°60°78°95°12a6a12p6pnow 66°high 88°low 65°
Cary, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNE
031° · veering 112°
Direction
NNE
031°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
19
avg 7
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 19 @ 8:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 189SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Cary, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
996.6
+0.1 mb in 3h · steady · 29.43 inHg
Now
996.6
mb
3h
+0.1
mb
12h
+2.1
mb
24h
+4.7
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 992–997
9859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW996.5991.8996.5
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Cary, NC
Air quality
35
AQI
Good
↓-29 in 6h

AQI 35 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 29 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 7.8 µg/m³ (AQI 43) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
7.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
4μg/m³
OzoneModerate
72μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 34. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 34
UV peak
3.3 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 8

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.8 µg/m³ (AQI 43) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.96
Wind
light
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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100TUEWEDTHUFRISATSUNMONTUE7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Cary, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
62.4mi
UNLIMITED
126 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
08:27 UTC · Cary, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
08:27 UTC · Cary, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Cary, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Cary, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Cary, NC
Almanac · Tuesday, June 16
Cut your thistles before St. John, you will have two instead of one.
Civil dawn
5:29 AM
Sunrise
1:58 AM
Daylight
14h 35m
Sunset
4:33 PM
Civil dusk
9:04 PM
Planting note
Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.
Cary, NC
The moon
Waxing Crescent
2% illuminated
Moonrise
7:12 AM
Moonset
9:45 PM
In sign
♋︎ Cancer
Cary, NC
Microseason
Jun 16–20

Heat settles and the rain begins

weather
Jan 146% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Cary at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 13°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 22 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jun 16–20
  • Planting window: Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.

Live wind & temperature near Cary

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of June 16, 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.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Cary

SPC has placed Cary in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms day after tomorrow.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · June 16–20

Heat settles and the rain begins

Summer heat locks in; afternoon thunderstorms arrive with humid intensity, feeding kudzu and swamp vegetation.

Day 167 of 365 · Wedge 34 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

Cary peaks at about 80°F in July and bottoms near 42°F in January; September brings the heaviest rain (5.7 inches) and February the least (2.9 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January42°3.6″7
February44°2.9″6
March51°4.2″7
April61°3.6″6
May69°4.0″6
June77°4.9″7
July80°4.7″7
August79°4.7″7
September73°5.7″6
October62°3.9″5
November52°3.5″5
December45°3.7″6

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Cary sees 42°F Januarys and 80°F Julys, a 39°F range, plus around 49.4 inches of precipitation across 74 days.

No season owns Cary's rain: September reaches 5.7 inches across 5.9 days and February keeps 2.9 inches on 6.0, an even spread through Cary's year. It is a balanced pattern Cary shares with places like Morrisville, NC, Apex, NC and Holly Springs, NC.

The cool-season window in Cary starts at mid-March, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. In Cary, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Cary's frost date. Around mid-December, freezing nights resume in Cary and tender crops must come in. Within Cary, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Cary's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Morrisville, NC, Apex, NC, Holly Springs, NC, Raleigh, NC, Carolina Meadows, 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?
In Cary, expect the last spring frost near mid-March; Cary's first autumn frost comes around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Cary?
September is the wettest month in Cary, about 5.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 49 inches.
What is the warmest month in Cary?
July is Cary's warmest month, averaging about 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Cary?
Cary bottoms out in January, with a mean near 42°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Cary?
Time tomatoes in Cary for two weeks after mid-March; peas and greens start at Cary's frost line.
How many rainy days does Cary get?
Expect roughly 74 wet days a year in Cary.
What hardiness zone is Cary?
Cary sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 42°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Cary?
Cary's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Cary?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Cary in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Cary?
Current conditions for Cary and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Cary forecast updated?
The Cary forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Cary?
Day length in Cary peaks around the June solstice — earliest sunrise and latest sunset — and is shortest near the December solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Cary?
The next few days in Cary's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Cary, North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 42°F, July about 80°F, 38°F between them.

Across the year, Cary collects about 49 inches of precipitation over roughly 74 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 35.8°N gives Cary its 38°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Cary's growing season.

All cities in North Carolina →

Raleigh, NC weather →

ZIP codes in Cary

  • 27560
  • 27518
  • 27519
  • 27511
  • 27513
  • 27512

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.