Asheville, nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid but rarely extreme, while winters are cool with occasional snow. The city receives moderate rainfall year-round and boasts abundant sunshine, making Asheville a comfortable and scenic destination for outdoor activities and seasonal festivals.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Asheville’s climate is shaped by its mountain location and elevation (about 660 metres). Summers (June–August) are warm and humid, with average highs of 27–29°C and lows of 16–18°C. July is the hottest month, but temperatures rarely exceed 32°C, and evenings are pleasantly cool. Summer is also the wettest season, with monthly rainfall of 95–110 mm, often from afternoon thunderstorms. Sunshine is abundant, with 7–9 hours per day, and daylight lasts up to 15 hours in June. Winds are generally light, averaging 12 km/h, but can be gusty during storms.
Winters (December–February) are cool, with highs of 7–10°C and lows near -3 to 2°C. Snowfall averages 10–12 cm per year, with snow most likely in January and February, but heavy accumulations are rare and melt quickly. Rain is common in winter, with 80–100 mm per month, and days are short with 5–6 hours of sunshine. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring mild temperatures (15–24°C), blooming gardens in spring, and vibrant foliage in autumn. Rain falls year-round, but October is typically the driest month. Asheville enjoys about 2,100–2,200 hours of sunshine annually. Fog and mist are common in the valleys, especially in spring and autumn, adding to the area’s scenic beauty.
| Average climate data for Asheville, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 7 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -2 | -0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | -2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 72 | 66 | 58 | 84 | 79 | 44 | 54 | 58 | 44 | 57 | 58 | 91 | 765 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 154 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 55 | 75 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 106 | 299 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 79 | 75 | 74 | 77 | 77 | 75 | 73 | 76 | 75 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 40 | 42 | 45 | 37 | 37 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 34 | 32 | 42 | 37 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Asheville is from late March to early June and September to early November. These periods offer mild temperatures (15–24°C), blooming gardens or vibrant autumn foliage, and comfortable weather for hiking, festivals, and exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn is especially popular for its spectacular leaf colours.
The least favourable time is from late December to February, when Asheville is coldest and wettest. Snow and rain are frequent, days are short, and outdoor activities may be limited by chilly, damp conditions. However, this season is ideal for those seeking fewer crowds, cosy mountain stays, and winter sports in nearby resorts.
Asheville has a temperate climate with four seasons: warm, humid summers (27–29°C), cool winters (7–10°C), and mild, scenic spring and autumn. Rain falls year-round, and snow is occasional but usually light.
The best times are late March to early June and September to early November, when temperatures are mild, rainfall is moderate, and the city’s gardens or mountain foliage are at their most beautiful.
Yes, Asheville receives about 10–12 cm of snow per year, mainly in January and February. Snow is usually light and melts quickly, but nearby mountains may have heavier accumulations for winter sports.
Asheville receives about 1,100–1,200 mm of rain annually, with the wettest months in spring and summer. Rain falls year-round, but October is typically the driest month.
Asheville enjoys 2,100–2,200 hours of sunshine per year. Summer and autumn are the sunniest seasons, while winter has shorter days and more cloud cover.
Yes, Asheville is humid in summer, though less so than lower-elevation cities in the Southeast. Humidity drops in autumn and winter, making those seasons feel crisper and more comfortable.
Pack layers and a rain jacket for spring and autumn, sun protection for summer, and warm, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella is useful year-round due to frequent showers.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (28.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (6.7 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (16.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-2.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.7 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (91.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is June (43.7 mm). Over the whole year there are 765.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (17.3 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (9.2 days). Over the whole year there are 154 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is December (106 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 299.3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (4.1 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is May (0 days). Over the whole year there are 12.7 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is May (78.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is January (73.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 75.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (10.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (5.7 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 8.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is March (45.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is June (29.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 36.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 7.6 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.8.
