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

Mills River, North Carolina Weather

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

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

Mills River, NC
Sunday, July 5 at 1:35 AM
71
°
Clear
Feels like
74°
Humidity
73%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
2:20 AM
Sunset
4:48 PM
Mills River, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMills River, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 67 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit with a 43% chance of precipitation at 4 PM.
L 67°H 88°
Mills River, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Heavy Drizzle
    43%
    0.10″
    88°67°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Showers
    81%
    0.01″
    87°67°-1°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    T-storm w/ Hail
    65%
    —
    88°65°+1°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    47%
    —
    89°63°+1°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    25%
    —
    91°63°+2°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    34%
    0.02″
    92°63°+1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Light Drizzle
    47%
    0.02″
    77°63°-15°
Mills River, NC
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°62°77°92°12a6a12p6pnow 71°high 88°low 67°PRECIP %
Mills River, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
278° · backing 103°
Direction
W
278°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
3
mph
Peak 24h
10
avg 3
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
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 3 · pk 10 @ 6:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 223SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Mills River, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
938.4
-1.3 mb in 3h · falling · 27.71 inHg
Now
938.4
mb
3h
-1.3
mb
12h
-5.1
mb
24h
-2.5
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 938–944
930935940945950-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW943.6938.5938.5
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Mills River, NC
Air quality
59
AQI
Moderate
↓-5 in 6h

AQI 59 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 5 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline). PM2.5 at 13.1 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.89 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 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 2.5DRIVERModerate
13.1μg/m³
PM 10Good
15μg/m³
NO₂Good
9μg/m³
OzoneGood
41μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.1 µg/m³ (AQI 58) with a 0.89 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
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
Mills River, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
41.4mi
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
05:35 UTC · Mills River, 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
05:35 UTC · Mills River, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Mills River, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Mills River, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Mills River, NC
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:52 AM
Sunrise
2:20 AM
Daylight
14h 28m
Sunset
4:48 PM
Civil dusk
9:19 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Mills River, NC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:45 PM
Moonset
11:43 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Mills River, NC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Mills River at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 5°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 19 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 28759

15-Day Forecast — Mills River

  1. Sun88°68°43%
  2. Mon87°67°81%
  3. Tue88°65°65%
  4. Wed89°63°47%
  5. Thu91°63°25%
  6. Fri92°63°34%
  7. Sat77°63°47%
  8. Sun76°64°42%
  9. Mon80°63°26%
  10. Tue87°59°16%
  11. Wed87°63°35%
  12. Thu83°65°55%
  13. Fri81°63°45%
  14. Sat88°65°56%
  15. Sun95°66°48%

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

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 — Mills River

SPC has placed Mills River in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • 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

In Mills River, July runs warmest near 75°F and January coldest around 38°F, while July is the wettest month (4.1 inches) and October the driest (2.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January38°3.3″6
February42°2.9″6
March48°3.5″7
April57°3.7″7
May65°3.5″7
June72°3.4″8
July75°4.1″8
August74°3.6″7
September68°3.7″6
October58°2.6″4
November48°3.0″5
December41°3.3″6

Regional context

Mills River's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 38°F Januarys with 75°F Julys — a 37°F swing. About 40.6 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 78 days a year.

No season owns Mills River's rain: July reaches 4.1 inches across 8.4 days and October keeps 2.6 inches on 4.4, an even spread through Mills River's year. It is a balanced pattern Mills River shares with places like Horse Shoe, NC, Mountain Home, NC and Etowah, NC.

Mills River's growing window opens around mid-March, once Mills River's overnight lows stop freezing — sow peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. In Mills River, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Mills River's frost date. Around mid-December, freezing nights resume in Mills River and tender crops must come in. In Mills River, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Mills River's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Horse Shoe, NC, Mountain Home, NC, Etowah, NC, Avery Creek, NC, Fletcher, NC.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Mills River?
Frost typically leaves Mills River by mid-March and returns to Mills River near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Mills River?
Rainfall in Mills River peaks in July near 4.1 inches, out of about 41 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Mills River?
The warmest stretch in Mills River comes in July, around 75°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Mills River?
On average January is the chilliest month in Mills River, about 38°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Mills River?
Mills River's last frost (mid-March) cues hardy greens; in Mills River, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Mills River get?
Mills River records around 78 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Mills River?
Mills River's USDA zone comes from its January mean (38°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Mills River?
Mills River'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 Mills River?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Mills River in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Mills River?
Current conditions for Mills River and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Mills River forecast updated?
The Mills River forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Mills River?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Mills River 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 Mills River?
The next few days in Mills River's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Mills River's humid subtropical climate in North Carolina pairs 38°F Januarys with 75°F Julys, 37°F apart across the seasons.

Mills River sees close to 41 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 78 wet days.

The 37°F gap between Mills River's summer and winter, at 35.4°N, shapes Mills River's frost calendar.

All cities in North Carolina →

Asheville, NC weather →

ZIP codes in Mills River

  • 28759

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.