AI-generatedRaleigh at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – May, Sep – Nov
- Warmest month
- Jul · 31°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,280 h
- Rain a year
- 1,146 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 96 m
Climate in Raleigh
Raleigh has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 31 °C, while January is the coolest at 10 °C. With around 2,280 hours of sunshine a year, Raleigh is sunny; June is the sunniest month with 7.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April – May, September – November
October is the peak of the hurricane season
Good forSightseeing & walks
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 14°
- Midday, 13:00: about 21°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 21°
- Evening, 20:00: about 18°
- Night, 23:00: about 16°
07:2018:40
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:04–07:54 · evening 18:06–18:56
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:54–07:04 · evening 18:56–19:06
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Raleigh in October?
In October, Raleigh is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 69 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Raleigh.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 21 min07:20 – 18:40
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 3 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 14 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 46 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC−4America/New_York
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %50 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %80 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
Sunshine hours in Raleigh
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.0 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Raleigh, 53 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Raleigh
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 45 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Raleigh: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Raleigh has about 7 rainy days with 69 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Raleigh
How breezy and how cloudy Raleigh is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Raleigh typically peaks at 14 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 46 % of the sky over Raleigh: variable cloud, with about 6.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Raleigh
How often the day gets hot in Raleigh (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Raleigh has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 22 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Raleigh
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 13°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening. Muggy on about 3 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (1°), the warmest in July (22°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from June to August; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in May and in September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to March, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 94 days a year, mostly from June to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 35 | 10° | 1° | 5.1 h | 9 | 90 |
| FebruaryFeb | 48 | 12° | 2° | 5.4 h | 9 | 83 |
| MarchMar | 68 | 16° | 6° | 6.0 h | 10 | 97 |
| AprilApr | 83 | 22° | 11° | 7.2 h | 9 | 91 |
| MayMay | 79 | 26° | 16° | 7.1 h | 11 | 93 |
| JuneJun | 62 | 30° | 20° | 7.7 h | 12 | 94 |
| JulyJul | 44 | 31° | 22° | 7.5 h | 15 | 119 |
| AugustAug | 54 | 30° | 22° | 6.8 h | 13 | 112 |
| SeptemberSep | 76 | 27° | 19° | 5.8 h | 10 | 127 |
| OctoberOct | 84 | 22° | 13° | 6.0 h | 7 | 69 |
| NovemberNov | 71 | 16° | 7° | 5.5 h | 8 | 80 |
| DecemberDec | 44 | 12° | 3° | 4.8 h | 9 | 90 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
35.77° N, 78.64° W · 96 m · America/New_York
Best time to visit Raleigh
The best time to visit Raleigh is from April to May and from September to November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from March to May and from September to November. Rain is most frequent from July to August; the wettest month is September with 127 mm.
Raleigh through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Raleigh in spring
Mar – May
Good
- 16–26 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Raleigh in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 30–31 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Raleigh in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 16–27 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Raleigh in winter
Dec – Feb
Fair
- 10–12 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Raleigh for you.
Your best months: April, October
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Raleigh
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and April bring similar holiday weather to Raleigh (score 84 and 83). Daytime highs are about the same. April has 2 more rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in April.
| Month | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 84 | 83 |
| Day high | 22° | 22° |
| Night low | 13° | 11° |
| Sunshine | 6.0 h | 7.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 7better | 9 |
| Rainfall | 69 mmbetter | 91 mm |
| Muggy days | 3 | 1better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Mar – May, Sep – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug
12 or more rainy days
Raleigh month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
35January10° · 5 h
In January, Raleigh is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 90 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in January48February12° · 5 h
In February, Raleigh is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, February is a so-so month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in February68March16° · 6 h
In March, Raleigh is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 97 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in March83April22° · 7 h
In April, Raleigh is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 91 mm in total. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in April79May26° · 7 h
In May, Raleigh is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 93 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in May62June30° · 8 h
In June, Raleigh is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 94 mm in total. On about 14 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in June44July31° · 8 h
In July, Raleigh is hot: daytime highs average 31 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 119 mm. On about 22 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in July54August30° · 7 h
In August, Raleigh is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 22 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 112 mm in total. On about 16 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in August76September27° · 6 h
In September, Raleigh is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 127 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in September84October22° · 6 h
In October, Raleigh is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 69 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in October71November16° · 6 h
In November, Raleigh is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in November44December12° · 5 h
In December, Raleigh is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 90 mm in total. All in all, December is a so-so month for a holiday in Raleigh.
Raleigh in DecemberRaleigh compared
Put Raleigh side by side with another destination.
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Raleigh vs. Charlotte
In October the holiday weather in Raleigh and Charlotte is about equally good (score 84 vs. 85). During the day it is about as warm in Charlotte as in Raleigh.
| in October | Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 84 | 85 |
| Daytime high | 22° | 22° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 7 | 7 |
| Best time | Apr – May, Sep – Nov | Mar – May, Sep – Nov |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Raleigh ranks 4 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Charlotte22°85
- 2Greenville22°85
- 3Atlanta22°85
- 4RaleighThis page22°84
- 5Savannah25°84
- 6Richmond21°82
- 7Asheville19°82
- 8Knoxville21°82
Planning a trip to Raleigh
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Raleigh in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Raleigh has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 84) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 40).
- 79
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 20 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 76
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 27 °C by day
- 7.2 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 51
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 31 °C by day
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 84
October half-term
Oct
ExcellentBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- 6.0 h of sun a day
- 7 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 40
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 8 h
- Distance
- 6,210 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Raleigh lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Raleigh
When is the best time to visit Raleigh?
The best time to visit Raleigh is from April to May and from September to November. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Raleigh?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 31 °C and nights around 22 °C. January is the coolest month at 10 °C.
When does it rain most in Raleigh?
Rain is most frequent from July to August; the wettest month is September with 127 mm. The driest month is October with 69 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Raleigh get?
Raleigh gets around 2,280 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 7.7 hours a day; in December there are 4.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Raleigh in?
Raleigh uses the time zone America/New_York: UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Raleigh?
A nonstop flight from London to Raleigh takes about 8 h, for a straight-line distance of about 6,210 km.
When is hurricane season in Raleigh?
Raleigh lies in an area that Atlantic hurricanes can reach. The hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Raleigh?
Raleigh has its best school-holiday weather during October half-term (score 84) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 40). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 79, May half-term 76, Summer holidays 51, October half-term 84, Christmas holidays 40.
Near Raleigh
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Raleigh
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Raleigh's – good alternatives.