Published 7 min readMountains
North Carolina Mountains Weather by Month (NOAA Normals)
Quick answer
At NOAA’s Asheville Regional Airport station (about 2,117 ft), 1991–2020 normals show average highs from 48.9°F (January) to 85.3°F (July) and average lows from 28.6°F (January) to 64.9°F (July). August is the wettest month (5.04 in) and October the driest (3.37 in). The Burnsville AG station (about 2,825 ft), within 15 miles of 11 of our mapped listings, runs cooler, with highs from 44.5°F to 83.2°F. Much higher, the Mt Mitchell station (about 6,240 ft) averages a 66.8°F high in July and a 16.7°F low in January. On BnB Search, the North Carolina Mountains vacation rentals hub lists 39 places, 36 of them individual stays. Sources are linked at the end.
North Carolina mountains climate at a glance (NOAA 1991–2020)
- Main station: Asheville Regional Airport (NOAA ID USW00003812), elevation about 2,117 ft.
- Warmest average high: 85.3°F in July.
- Coldest average low: 28.6°F in January.
- Wettest month: August, 5.04 in of precipitation.
- Driest month: October, 3.37 in.
- Snowfall: 3.6 in in January, the snowiest month, and 10.3 in for the year.
- Higher elevations: Burnsville AG (about 2,825 ft) and Mt Mitchell (about 6,240 ft) are cooler in every month; see the comparison table.
Why this matters for renters: the numbers below tell you what to pack and what to ask a host before you book. They do not say when to go; that depends on what you want to do.
Asheville monthly normals table
| Month | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | Precip (in) | Snowfall (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48.9 | 28.6 | 4.13 | 3.6 |
| February | 52.9 | 31.2 | 3.46 | 1.9 |
| March | 59.8 | 37.0 | 3.80 | 1.9 |
| April | 69.4 | 44.6 | 4.17 | 0.2 |
| May | 76.3 | 53.2 | 4.13 | 0.0 |
| June | 82.5 | 61.1 | 4.79 | 0.0 |
| July | 85.3 | 64.9 | 4.67 | 0.0 |
| August | 84.0 | 64.0 | 5.04 | 0.0 |
| September | 78.7 | 57.9 | 4.13 | 0.0 |
| October | 69.6 | 46.2 | 3.37 | 0.0 |
| November | 59.5 | 36.1 | 3.72 | 0.2 |
| December | 51.5 | 31.3 | 4.18 | 2.5 |
Higher up: temperatures by elevation
| Month | Asheville | Burnsville | Mt Mitchell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48.9 / 28.6 | 44.5 / 26.5 | 33.5 / 16.7 |
| Feb | 52.9 / 31.2 | 49.1 / 29.1 | 35.5 / 18.5 |
| Mar | 59.8 / 37.0 | 56.2 / 34.2 | 41.0 / 23.6 |
| Apr | 69.4 / 44.6 | 66.0 / 41.9 | 50.2 / 32.0 |
| May | 76.3 / 53.2 | 73.0 / 48.8 | 57.8 / 41.3 |
| Jun | 82.5 / 61.1 | 79.8 / 58.2 | 63.8 / 48.7 |
| Jul | 85.3 / 64.9 | 83.2 / 61.2 | 66.8 / 52.3 |
| Aug | 84.0 / 64.0 | 81.1 / 59.7 | 66.0 / 51.2 |
| Sep | 78.7 / 57.9 | 75.9 / 53.9 | 61.4 / 46.2 |
| Oct | 69.6 / 46.2 | 66.9 / 42.1 | 53.6 / 36.9 |
| Nov | 59.5 / 36.1 | 57.3 / 33.6 | 44.8 / 27.6 |
| Dec | 51.5 / 31.3 | 48.3 / 28.5 | 37.7 / 21.4 |
Precipitation at Mt Mitchell is higher than at Asheville in every month; its wettest month is September (8.76 in).
About this data
These are NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. Our North Carolina Mountains hub is regional: its listings are spread across several counties at different elevations, so no single station fits every cabin. We use three stations:
- Asheville Regional Airport (ID USW00003812), elevation 645 m (about 2,117 ft), about 29 miles southwest of the middle of our listing pins. NOAA computed its temperature normals from 30 years of data, precipitation from 30 and snowfall from 29–30; completeness flags S.
- Burnsville AG (ID USC00311248), elevation 861 m (about 2,825 ft), about 12 miles north of the middle of the pins. Temperature normals only, from 10 years; flags R. NOAA flags its precipitation normal as estimated, so we do not use it.
- Mt Mitchell (ID USC00315923), elevation 1902 m (about 6,240 ft), about 3 miles west of the middle of the pins. Temperature and precipitation normals from 29–30 years; flags R and S. NOAA flags its snowfall normal as provisional, so we do not list it. This station is far higher than our listings; use it for a day trip up the mountain, not for the cabin itself.
“S” means standard and “R” representative, as defined in NOAA’s documentation. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast: any given week can be much warmer, colder, wetter or drier, and temperatures differ with elevation. Our listing pins are not all at one height, so expect a cabin on a ridge to run cooler than the Asheville airport numbers.
Packing notes from the numbers
- At the Asheville airport station, average lows are at or below 32°F in January, February and December. Pack warm layers for evenings and mornings.
- Average lows there are between 33°F and 45°F in March, April and November, so a jacket is useful after dark.
- At Mt Mitchell, average lows are at or below 32°F in January, February, March, April, November and December, and the warmest average high is 66.8°F. Bring a warm layer for any drive up the mountains, even in summer.
- Average precipitation at Asheville is 4 inches or more in January, April, May, June, July, August, September and December. A rain jacket is worth packing.
- Snow: Asheville averages 3.6 in in January. The higher stations are colder, but NOAA does not publish complete snowfall normals for them, so we do not give a number there.
What our North Carolina Mountains listings show
These counts come from BnB Search's own directory data and change when listings are added or removed.
- 39 listings in total: 36 individual stays, 3 rental companies, property managers or real estate offices.
- Area tags: Buncombe County 6, Black Mountain 5, Madison County 5, Yancey County 4, McDowell County 4, Lake Lure 4, Mitchell County 2, Boone 2. Our area tags are broad, so open the map pin to see exactly where a listing is.
- Near each station: 2 of our 39 mapped listings are within 15 miles of the Asheville airport station and 11 within 15 miles of Burnsville AG.
- Words in the stay titles: of the 36 stays, 5 mention a mountain view; 8 mention a hot tub; 2 mention a fire pit; 2 mention pets or dogs; 10 mention cabin; 4 mention cottage. Hosts write these titles themselves, so confirm each feature before you book.
Browse them on the North Carolina Mountains hub (map and filters) or in the full North Carolina Mountains listings directory.
Before you book a North Carolina Mountains rental
- For a stay in January, February and December, ask the host how the driveway and access road are cleared after snow or ice, and whether a 4WD or AWD vehicle is recommended. This matters most if the home sits on a steep or gravel road.
- Ask whether the heating system, hot tub and pipes are kept running in winter, and who to call if the heat fails.
- Ask the host for the elevation of the home if it matters to you; it can change the temperature a lot compared with Asheville.
- For July, when Asheville averages 85.3°F or more, confirm whether the rental has air conditioning; do not assume it.
- Check a current forecast from the National Weather Service (weather.gov) a few days before you travel; normals do not replace a forecast.
FAQ
Which month is warmest and which is coldest in the North Carolina mountains?
At the Asheville Regional Airport station, July has the highest average high (85.3°F) and January the lowest average low (28.6°F). Higher elevations are cooler: Mt Mitchell averages 66.8°F in July and 16.7°F in January.
How much snow does Asheville get?
The Asheville airport station averages 10.3 inches a year, most in January (3.6 in). These are 1991–2020 normals.
Which month is wettest?
August at the Asheville airport station, with 5.04 inches. October is the driest at 3.37 inches.
How many North Carolina Mountains rentals does BnB Search list?
39 listings, including 36 individual stays.
Does BnB Search book the stay?
No. Compare on the hub, then book on the site linked from the listing.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, Asheville Regional Airport station (USW00003812)
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals data file for USW00003812 (CSV)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, Burnsville AG station (USC00311248)
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals data file for USC00311248 (CSV)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, Mt Mitchell station (USC00315923)
- NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals data file for USC00315923 (CSV)
- NOAA NCEI monthly normals documentation (completeness flags)
Related
NC mountains first-time visitor checklist · NC mountains winter packing · Things to do · Areas guide · Lake Lure weather by month · North Carolina Mountains vacation rentals · All North Carolina Mountains listings