Updated October 2026
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Weather by Month
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 86°F and a low of 73°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 51°F and an average low of 36°F. August is the wettest month, with about 5.6 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 0.7 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 1.4 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Fort Raleigh National Historic Site can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
86°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
36°F avg low
Wettest month
Aug
5.6 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
0.7 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.4 h of daylight
Average weather at Fort Raleigh by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51°F | 36°F | 3.8 in | 0.7 in | 9.8 h |
| February | 53°F | 37°F | 3.2 in | 0.4 in | 10.7 h |
| March | 59°F | 43°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 68°F | 51°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 75°F | 60°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in | 13.9 h |
| June | 82°F | 69°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in | 14.4 h |
| July | 86°F | 73°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in | 14.2 h |
| August | 84°F | 72°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in | 13.4 h |
| September | 79°F | 69°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 71°F | 58°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in | 11.1 h |
| November | 61°F | 48°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 10.1 h |
| December | 55°F | 40°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 9.6 h |
| Year total | 46.5 in | 1.1 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USW00013766, 1.4 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Fort Raleigh is at that time of year.
Fort Raleigh weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 51°F in January, between 55°F in December and 53°F in February, with average lows between 36°F and 40°F. Together the three months average 10.3 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 1.1 inches for the season, most of it in January. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.6 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 59°F in March to 75°F in May, with average lows between 43°F and 60°F. Together the three months average 10.2 inches of precipitation, about 22% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.9 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 86°F in July, between 82°F in June and 84°F in August, with average lows between 69°F and 73°F. Together the three months average 15.4 inches of precipitation, about 33% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.4 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 79°F in September to 61°F in November, with average lows between 48°F and 69°F. Together the three months average 10.6 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather on the Outer Banks varies seasonally and daily. Please check the National Weather Service at http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ for up-to-date weather forecast information.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Fort Raleigh
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 35.93°N, 75.71°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Fort Raleigh National Historic Site →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 2.1× the visitors of the park's average month. June is the busiest month of the year and January the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Fort Raleigh.
Where to stay near Fort Raleigh
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Top-rated places to stay near Fort Raleigh
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, with an average high of 86°F and an average low of 73°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 1.4 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, with an average low of 36°F and an average high of 51°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
August is the wettest month, with about 5.6 inches of precipitation. April and November are the driest, at about 2.9 inches each. The station records about 46.5 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 1.4 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 1.1 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 0.7 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 2 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
6 mi away · warmest in July (86°F)
36 mi away · warmest in July (87°F)
84 mi away · warmest in July (93°F)
103 mi away · warmest in July (89°F)
131 mi away · warmest in July (89°F)
138 mi away · warmest in July (90°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USW00013766), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.