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

Raleigh, North Carolina Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Raleigh, NC
Saturday, July 4 at 3:47 PM
101
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
107°
Humidity
32%
Wind
7 mph
Sunrise
2:03 AM
Sunset
4:34 PM
Raleigh, NC
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastRaleigh, NC: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 75°H 101°
Raleigh, NC
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    101°75°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    11%
    —
    102°75°+1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Heavy Drizzle
    78%
    —
    99°76°-3°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    69%
    1.9″
    95°74°-4°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    49%
    —
    93°72°-2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Partly Cloudy
    26%
    —
    98°74°+5°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Partly Cloudy
    27%
    —
    101°77°+3°
Raleigh, NC
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°70°90°110°12p6p12a6anow 100°high 101°low 75°
Raleigh, NC
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
165° · veering 67°
Direction
SSE
165°
Sustained
7
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
11
avg 3
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 3 · pk 11 @ 4:00a
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 247SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Raleigh, NC
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1002.2
-2.0 mb in 3h · falling · 29.59 inHg
Now
1002.2
mb
3h
-2.0
mb
12h
-1.8
mb
24h
-2.9
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1002–1006
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1005.51002.41002.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure giving way — clouds thicken and rain edges closer.
Raleigh, NC
Air quality
57
AQI
Moderate
→-1 in 6h▲Peak ~85 @ 11 PM

AQI 57 (Moderate), driven by Ozone. Ozone at AQI 90 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast skies. Levels should ease through evening.

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

PM 2.5Moderate
13.2μg/m³
PM 10Good
16μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
131μg/m³
UV IndexVery high
7.2

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 90 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 90
UV peak
6.8 at earlier today
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 90

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.2 µg/m³, PM10 at 16.1 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.82
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

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 TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Raleigh, NC
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
20%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
115.6mi
UNLIMITED
108 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
19:47 UTC · Raleigh, 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
19:47 UTC · Raleigh, NC · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Raleigh, NC
Satellite · infrared · animated
Raleigh, NC
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Raleigh, NC
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:34 AM
Sunrise
2:03 AM
Daylight
14h 31m
Sunset
4:34 PM
Civil dusk
9:05 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Raleigh, NC
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:02 PM
Moonset
10:23 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Raleigh, NC
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Raleigh at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 25°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 22 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 27601, 27603, 27604, 27605, 27606, 27607, 27608, 27609 +9 more

16-Day Forecast — Raleigh

  1. Sat102°75°0%
  2. Sun102°75°11%
  3. Mon99°76°78%
  4. Tue95°74°69%
  5. Wed93°72°49%
  6. Thu98°74°26%
  7. Fri101°77°27%
  8. Sat101°74°34%
  9. Sun85°73°26%
  10. Mon88°70°18%
  11. Tue91°71°21%
  12. Wed93°73°48%
  13. Thu94°74°42%
  14. Fri94°75°61%
  15. Sat102°78°65%
  16. Sun101°77°48%

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

Live wind & temperature near Raleigh

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 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.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Raleigh

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

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • 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 · 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 185 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

July is Raleigh's warmest stretch (~80°F) and January its coldest (~42°F); precipitation crests in September at 5.7 inches and ebbs in February to 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

In Raleigh, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 42°F and July near 80°F — a 39°F seasonal arc — with about 49.4 inches of precipitation over 74 rainy or snowy days.

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

Raleigh reaches its last hard frost near mid-March; that is the cue for peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Raleigh, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. By mid-December, frost is back in Raleigh — protect or harvest anything tender. Raleigh's low ground holds frost later into spring than Raleigh's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Knightdale, NC, Garner, NC, Cary, NC, Morrisville, NC, Wake Forest, 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?
In Raleigh, expect the last spring frost near mid-March; Raleigh's first autumn frost comes around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Raleigh?
Raleigh sees its heaviest rain in September (around 5.7 inches), part of roughly 49 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Raleigh?
On average July tops the year in Raleigh at about 80°F.
What is the coldest month in Raleigh?
The coldest stretch in Raleigh falls in January, around 42°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Raleigh?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-March in Raleigh; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Raleigh get?
Expect roughly 74 wet days a year in Raleigh.
What hardiness zone is Raleigh?
With January around 42°F, Raleigh's zone reflects that minimum — the USDA ZIP map confirms Raleigh's band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Raleigh?
Raleigh'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 Raleigh?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Raleigh in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Raleigh?
Current conditions for Raleigh and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Raleigh forecast updated?
The Raleigh forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Raleigh?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
The next few days in Raleigh's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a humid subtropical zone, Raleigh, North Carolina swings from 42°F in the heart of winter to 80°F at midsummer — a 38°F arc.

Yearly precipitation in Raleigh totals around 49 inches, spread over about 74 days of rain or snow.

Raleigh sits at 35.8°N; that 38°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Raleigh.

All cities in North Carolina →

Charlotte, NC weather →

ZIP codes in Raleigh

  • 27617
  • 27616
  • 27615
  • 27614
  • 27613
  • 27612
  • 27610
  • 27609
  • 27601
  • 27603
  • 27604
  • 27605
  • 27606
  • 27608
  • 27607
  • 27697
  • 27695
  • 27602
  • 27619
  • 27620
  • 27622
  • 27624
  • 27626
  • 27627
  • 27628
  • 27634
  • 27636
  • 27640
  • 27650
  • 27656
  • 27658
  • 27661
  • 27668
  • 27675
  • 27676
  • 27690
  • 27698

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.