Best time to visit Raleigh
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Raleigh
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Raleigh).
- 1
Downtown Raleigh Pub Crawl - 2
Raleigh Guided E-Bike Tour: Tacos, Margaritas, and History - 3
Raleigh Guided E-bike Tour: Ghosts, Mystery, Creepy History - 4
Raleigh Guided E-Bike Tour: Burgers, Cocktails, and History - 5
2 hour Guided E-Bike Tour: Greenery, Scenery and Mindfulness - 6
Durham Dash Scavenger Hunt
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Similar climatesWilliamsburg95% · Nashville92% · Washington D.C.89%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Raleigh (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Raleigh's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2–11 | 8 | 11 | 113 | 10.3 | 62% | 18 | 153 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | 4–14 | 11 | 10 | 117 | 11.7 | 62% | 18 | 146 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| Mar | 7–18 | 16 | 10 | 103 | 10.3 | 55% | 19 | 185 | 5 | Quiet | 8 |
| Apr | 11–23 | 21 | 8 | 77 | 9.6 | 47% | 19 | 236 | 6 | Quiet | 9 |
| May | 15–26 | 26 | 10 | 108 | 10.8 | 52% | 17 | 240 | 7 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jun | 19–30 | 32 | 11 | 120 | 10.9 | 53% | 15 | 258 | 8 | Quiet | 5 |
| Jul | 22–32 | 36 | 15 | 134 | 8.9 | 60% | 14 | 259 | 8 | Quiet | 2 |
| Aug | 21–31 | 34 | 14 | 140 | 10.0 | 62% | 13 | 246 | 7 | Peak | 3 |
| Sep | 18–27 | 29 | 11 | 126 | 11.5 | 61% | 14 | 216 | 6 | Busy | 7 |
| Oct | 12–22 | 22 | 6 | 66 | 11.0 | 60% | 14 | 208 | 5 | Moderate | 9 |
| Nov | 7–17 | 15 | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 58% | 16 | 186 | 3 | Peak | 8 |
| Dec | 3–13 | 10 | 8 | 85 | 10.6 | 63% | 16 | 166 | 2 | Busy | 7 |
UV Index in Raleigh by Month
UV index in Raleigh peaks at 8 (high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. April, May, June, July, August, September have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
April
9/1011–23°C (feels 21°C) · 8 rain days (77h) · 236 sun hours · 47% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
October
9/1012–22°C · 6 rain days (66h) · 208 sun hours · 60% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate)
May
9/1015–26°C · 10 rain days (108h) · 240 sun hours · 52% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/102–11°C (feels 8°C) · 11 rain days (113h) · 153 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
February
6/104–14°C (feels 11°C) · 10 rain days (117h) · 146 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
March
8/107–18°C (feels 16°C) · 10 rain days (103h) · 185 sun hours · 55% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
June
5/1019–30°C (feels 32°C) · 11 rain days (120h) · 258 sun hours · 53% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
July
2/1022–32°C (feels 36°C) · 15 rain days (134h) · 259 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
August
3/1021–31°C (feels 34°C) · 14 rain days (140h) · 246 sun hours · 62% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
September
7/1018–27°C (feels 29°C) · 11 rain days (126h) · 216 sun hours · 61% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
November
8/107–17°C (feels 15°C) · 6 rain days (61h) · 186 sun hours · 58% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
December
7/103–13°C (feels 10°C) · 8 rain days (85h) · 166 sun hours · 63% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 2 (low)
Comparisons people search for
Pairs validated by Google Autocomplete demand — only pairs people actually compare.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Raleigh
When is the best time to visit Raleigh?
April is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 11–23°C (8 rainy days). The top three months by score are April, October, May.
What is the worst time to visit Raleigh?
July is the lowest-scoring month (2/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 22–32°C (15 rainy days).
Is Raleigh too hot in summer?
3 months (June, July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Raleigh?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in April and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Raleigh have good weather but fewer tourists?
April (climate 9/10, crowd index 0) and May (climate 9/10, crowd index 2) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Raleigh by month?
UV peaks at 8 (high) in July and is lowest in December at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 3, Mar 5, Apr 6, May 7, Jun 8, Jul 8, Aug 7, Sep 6, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 2.
What is the UV index in Raleigh in July?
July is the peak UV month in Raleigh, with a daily-peak UV index of 8 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in Raleigh on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 8 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Raleigh bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 7 months: January, February, May, June, July, August, December. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 15 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 27 µg/m³ (unhealthy) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.