ClimateAverages

Durham Climate

North Carolina, United States of America · population 257,636 · 359 weather stations within 200 km · records 1750 to 2025

Average annual daytime high
21.5°C
Warmest month · July
31.5°C
Typical daytime high
Coldest month · January
-1.7°C
Typical overnight low

Durham has an average annual daytime high of 21.5°C, based on the 1951 to 1980 baseline. Its warmest month is July, when highs typically reach 31.5°C, and its coldest is January, with overnight lows near -1.7°C.

Month by month averages

MonthAvg highAvg low
January10.3°C-1.7°CColdest
February12.0°C-0.9°C
March16.6°C3.1°C
April22.4°C7.9°C
May26.3°C12.8°C
June29.7°C16.9°C
July31.5°C19.2°CWarmest
August30.9°C19.0°C
September27.9°C15.5°C
October22.1°C8.4°C
November16.9°C3.3°C
December11.5°C-0.7°C

Temperature range across the year

-4°6°15°24°34°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daytime high Overnight low
Hottest year on record
2016
+2.0°C vs. 1951–1980
Coldest year on record
1787
-2.8°C vs. 1951–1980

These figures reflect annual averages, not single-day records. Daily observations are outside this dataset's precision.

Is Durham getting hotter?

Since 1900, Durham's average temperature has risen by +1.6°C. Compared to the earliest station records that begin in 1750, warming totals +2.6°C.

14.4°15.0°15.5°16.1°16.7°1951–1980 baseline190019251950197520002025

20-year smoothed annual temperature reconstructed from station anomalies. Dashed line: 1951–1980 baseline.

Best time to visit
March to November

Daytime highs sit within a comfortable 15°C to 26°C range.

FAQ

What is the average temperature in Durham?

Durham's average annual daytime high is 21.5°C, based on the 1951 to 1980 baseline period. The warmest month is July, with highs averaging 31.5°C, and the coldest is January, with lows averaging -1.7°C.

What is the warmest month in Durham?

July is the warmest month in Durham, with typical daytime highs of 31.5°C.

What is the hottest year on record for Durham?

2016 is the hottest year on record for Durham, running +2.0°C above the 1951 to 1980 baseline.

Is Durham getting hotter?

Yes. Since 1900, Durham has warmed by roughly +1.6°C.

When is the best time to visit Durham?

March to November typically offers the most comfortable daytime highs, in the 15°C to 26°C range.

Nearby cities

Baseline period 1951 to 1980. Monthly averages are the mean of station observations weighted by proximity. Warming trend is the 20-year smoothed anomaly against that baseline.