Durham, NC weather in August
Durham is hot and oppressively humid in August, with frequent rain: highs average 89°F and nights drop to about 69°F. Rain falls on about 11 days. This is the peak of the warm season in Durham.
- Normal high
- 89°F
- Normal low
- 69°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.7 in total
- Muggy days
- 24
- dew point 65°F+
How August changes from start to finish
| August 1 | August 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 90°F | 87°F |
| Normal low | 70°F | 67°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:23 am / 8:20 pm | 6:46 am / 7:45 pm |
| Daylight | 14.0 h | 13.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical August day
- 6 am70°Fdew point 67°F
- 9 am78°Fdew point 69°F
- Noon84°Fdew point 68°F
- 3 pm86°Fdew point 67°F
- 6 pm82°Fdew point 67°F
- 9 pm76°Fdew point 68°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (10 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 43% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 38%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more14 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more24 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per August, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in August
Normal precipitation is 4.7 in; a dry August brings about 3.1 in and a wet one about 6.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How August varies from year to year
- Warmest August, 1991-20202007: average high 96°F
- Coolest August1992: average high 83°F
- Wettest August2004: 9.3 in
- Driest August2007: 0.9 in
- Highest reading105°F (August 21, 2007)
- Lowest reading52°F (August 23, 1997)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
August compared with July and September
| July | August | September | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 91°F | 89°F | 83°F |
| Normal low | 70°F | 69°F | 63°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Daylight | 14.3 h | 13.5 h | 12.4 h |
Highs change by -2°F from July and -6°F into September.
Nearby alternatives in August
- Warmer: Columbia, SC183 mi · high 94°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV187 mi · high 80°F · 10 wet days
How Durham ranks in August
- Normal high155th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days300th driest of 378
- Comfortable days209th most of 341
What to pack for Durham in August
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 89°F and about 24 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
August has 0 heating degree days and 428 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Durham in August?
The normal high is 89°F and the normal low is 69°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest August reading was 105°F (August 21, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Durham in August?
About 11 days in August have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.7 in. The wettest August in 1991-2020 was in 2004 (9.3 in); the driest was in 2007 (0.9 in).
Is August a good time to visit Durham?
August ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Durham (42 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day and about 14 days at 90°F or hotter. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (USW00013722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 416 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Pope AFB (USW00013714), 57 mi S of the city center, 218 ft (177 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (723060-13722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 395 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.