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Durham, North Carolina Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Durham, NC
Sunday, July 5 at 3:15 PM
98
°
Partly Cloudy
Feels like
102°
Humidity
34%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
2:04 AM
Sunset
4:35 PM
Durham, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastDurham, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 74 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit with a 22% chance of precipitation at 5 PM.
L 74°H 99°
Durham, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Drizzle
    22%
    0.03″
    99°75°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Showers
    34%
    0.23″
    97°74°-2°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Showers
    70%
    0.11″
    97°75°0°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Showers
    57%
    0.02″
    91°73°-6°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Drizzle
    19%
    0.03″
    97°75°+6°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    20%
    —
    99°75°+2°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Light Drizzle
    46%
    —
    91°74°-8°
Durham, NC
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°65°85°105°12p6p12a6anow 99°high 99°low 74°PRECIP %
Durham, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
225° · veering 60°
Direction
SW
225°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
19
avg 4
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 4 · pk 19 @ 10:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 217SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Durham, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
998.3
-1.4 mb in 3h · falling · 29.48 inHg
Now
998.3
mb
3h
-1.4
mb
12h
-1.2
mb
24h
-1.5
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 998–1001
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1000.6998.4998.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Durham, NC
Air quality
41
AQI
Good
→-2 in 6h▲Peak ~54 @ 11 PM

AQI 41 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 58 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

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

PM 2.5Good
6.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
7μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
112μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
6.4

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 58 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 58
UV peak
6.1 at earlier today
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 58

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 6.0 µg/m³ (AQI 33) with a 0.85 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.85
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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Durham, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
73%
MOSTLY CLOUDY
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
114.2mi
UNLIMITED
125 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
19:15 UTC · Durham, 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
19:15 UTC · Durham, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Durham, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Durham, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Durham, NC
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:35 AM
Sunrise
2:04 AM
Daylight
14h 31m
Sunset
4:35 PM
Civil dusk
9:06 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Durham, NC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
70% illuminated
Moonrise
11:30 PM
Moonset
11:27 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Durham, NC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Durham at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 22°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 23 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 27701, 27703, 27704, 27705, 27707, 27708, 27709, 27712 +1 more

16-Day Forecast — Durham

  1. Sun99°75°22%
  2. Mon97°74°34%
  3. Tue97°75°70%
  4. Wed91°73°57%
  5. Thu97°75°19%
  6. Fri99°75°20%
  7. Sat91°74°46%
  8. Sun95°74°38%
  9. Mon98°75°21%
  10. Tue87°70°10%
  11. Wed91°67°10%
  12. Thu98°72°29%
  13. Fri97°75°35%
  14. Sat94°69°45%
  15. Sun81°66°52%
  16. Mon93°66°39%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Durham

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, 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 — Durham

SPC has placed Durham in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

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 · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 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

The year in Durham tops out in July (~78°F) and dips lowest in January (~38°F), with June wettest at 5.2 inches and February driest at 2.9 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January38°4.0″6
February41°2.9″6
March49°4.5″8
April58°3.7″7
May66°3.8″7
June74°5.2″7
July78°4.2″7
August76°5.2″7
September70°4.7″5
October59°3.4″5
November49°3.6″5
December42°3.3″6

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Durham sees 38°F Januarys and 78°F Julys, a 40°F range, plus around 48.6 inches of precipitation across 77 days.

Rainfall in Durham stays even across the calendar: June tops out at 5.2 inches over 7.4 rainy days, and February still logs 2.9 inches across 6.2 — a narrow range for Durham. That even rhythm groups Durham with places like Gorman, NC, Chapel Hill, NC and Carolina Meadows, NC.

The cool-season window in Durham starts at mid-March, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. In Durham, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Durham's frost date. It shuts near mid-December, when freezes return to Durham and tender plants need cover. In Durham, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Durham's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Gorman, NC, Chapel Hill, NC, Carolina Meadows, NC, Morrisville, NC, Carrboro, NC.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds returning from their winter grounds.

Dogwood trees typically reach peak bloom during mid to late April across the region.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Durham?
Durham's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in Durham the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Durham?
Rainfall in Durham peaks in June near 5.2 inches, out of about 49 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Durham?
The warmest stretch in Durham comes in July, around 78°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Durham?
On average January is the chilliest month in Durham, about 38°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Durham?
Durham's last frost (mid-March) cues hardy greens; in Durham, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Durham get?
Durham records around 77 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Durham?
Durham sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 38°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Durham?
Durham'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 Durham?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Durham in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Durham?
Current conditions for Durham and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Durham forecast updated?
The Durham forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Durham?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Durham are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Durham?
The next few days in Durham's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Durham, North Carolina has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 38°F, July about 78°F, 40°F between them.

Across the year, Durham collects about 49 inches of precipitation over roughly 77 days with measurable rain or snow.

At 36.0°N, Durham's 40°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Durham's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in North Carolina →

Charlotte, NC weather →

ZIP codes in Durham

  • 27703
  • 27705
  • 27704
  • 27707
  • 27701
  • 27708
  • 27712
  • 27713
  • 27706
  • 27710
  • 27715
  • 27717
  • 27722

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.