Raleigh, North Carolina Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Raleigh weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Clear——89°53°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——94°61°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast——94°69°0°
- SundayJun 7Overcast32%—97°70°+3°
- MondayJun 8Showers32%0.15″89°68°-8°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast15%—84°63°-5°
- WednesdayJun 10Overcast17%—91°66°+7°
PM2.5 at 6.7 µg/m³ (AQI 37) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 16 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
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 32 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 14 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 32
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 14
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 6.7 µg/m³ (AQI 37) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.92
- 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
- 1:26 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Raleigh at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 21°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 brings Raleigh's peak warmth at around 80°F mean temperature, while January delivers the coldest conditions at roughly 42°F. September produces the heaviest rainfall at 5.7 inches, contrasting with February's lightest precipitation of 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
Raleigh falls within a humid subtropical climate region, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with other nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Charlotte, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Durham, NC, Greensboro, NC, Fayetteville, NC.
Naturalist notes
Carolina wrens begin their territorial singing in late March as daylight hours extend past the spring equinox.
Dogwood trees start leafing out in early April when soil temperatures consistently reach the mid-50s°F range.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Raleigh?
- Mid-March typically brings Raleigh's last spring frost, while the first fall frost usually arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Raleigh?
- September ranks as the wettest month, delivering about 5.7 inches of rain on average, while the city's annual total reaches roughly 49 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Raleigh?
- July typically records the warmest temperatures, averaging about 80°F.
- What is the coldest month in Raleigh?
- January typically brings the coldest conditions, averaging about 42°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Raleigh?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-March, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Raleigh get?
- Raleigh experiences about 74 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Raleigh?
- Raleigh's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool can provide the current zone designation using the city ZIP code.
Climate
Raleigh, North Carolina experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. Winter temperatures in January hover near 42°F, while July averages reach 80°F, creating a 39°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 49 inches across roughly 74 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes Raleigh's weather patterns through its latitude of 35.8°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows in the region, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.