Durham weather in December
In December, Durham sees average daytime highs of 53°F and overnight lows near 36°F, with 3.5 in of precipitation across 9.2 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs ease over the month, from about 56°F in the first days to 51°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Durham's 5th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Durham's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 53°
- 11th warmest
- Overnight low
- 36°
- 3rd coldest
- Precipitation
- 3.5 in
- 9.2 wet days
- Daylight
- 9 h 36 min
- 7:25 AM – 4:59 PM
- Cloud cover
- 55%
- 5th clearest
- Wind
- 7 mph
- 5th windiest
- Solar energy
- 2.24 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 3.2
- out of 10
Durham is county seat of Durham County, North Carolina, United States.
- Density
- 919/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1869
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in December
Highs ease over the month, from about 56°F in the first days to 51°F by the end.
A typical December day in Durham reaches about 53°F in the afternoon and slips back to 36°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 40°F and 66°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 8°F cooler than November and about 3°F warmer than January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°F) | 57 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Avg low (°F) | 39 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 57 | 39 |
| 2 | 56 | 38 |
| 3 | 56 | 38 |
| 4 | 56 | 38 |
| 5 | 55 | 38 |
| 6 | 55 | 38 |
| 7 | 55 | 37 |
| 8 | 54 | 37 |
| 9 | 54 | 37 |
| 10 | 54 | 37 |
| 11 | 53 | 37 |
| 12 | 53 | 37 |
| 13 | 53 | 36 |
| 14 | 53 | 36 |
| 15 | 53 | 36 |
| 16 | 53 | 36 |
| 17 | 52 | 36 |
| 18 | 52 | 36 |
| 19 | 52 | 36 |
| 20 | 52 | 36 |
| 21 | 52 | 36 |
| 22 | 52 | 35 |
| 23 | 52 | 35 |
| 24 | 52 | 35 |
| 25 | 52 | 35 |
| 26 | 51 | 35 |
| 27 | 51 | 35 |
| 28 | 51 | 35 |
| 29 | 51 | 35 |
| 30 | 51 | 35 |
| 31 | 51 | 35 |
How December really feels in Durham
Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 23 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Durham weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 11th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50° / 33° | 3.6 | 9.4 | 1.4 | 9.8 | 2.4 |
| Feb | 54° / 35° | 3.2 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 10.6 | 3.3 |
| Mar | 62° / 42° | 4.3 | 10.5 | 0.5 | 11.7 | 5.2 |
| Apr | 71° / 51° | 3.5 | 9.3 | 0 | 12.9 | 6.7 |
| May | 78° / 60° | 3.4 | 10.6 | 0 | 13.9 | 6.6 |
| Jun | 85° / 68° | 3.9 | 12 | 0 | 14.4 | 5.0 |
| Jul | 88° / 71° | 4.3 | 14.9 | 0 | 14.2 | 3.9 |
| Aug | 86° / 70° | 3.9 | 11.6 | 0 | 13.4 | 4.7 |
| Sep | 81° / 64° | 4.4 | 9.4 | 0 | 12.2 | 6.4 |
| Oct | 71° / 53° | 3.1 | 7.5 | 0 | 11.1 | 7.1 |
| Nov | 61° / 42° | 3.3 | 7.7 | 0.1 | 10.1 | 5.5 |
| Dec | 53° / 36° | 3.5 | 9.2 | 0.6 | 9.6 | 3.2 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time in December.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 49%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 54 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 50 |
| Cloudier (%) | 46 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54 | 46 |
| 2 | 54 | 46 |
| 3 | 53 | 47 |
| 4 | 52 | 48 |
| 5 | 52 | 48 |
| 6 | 51 | 49 |
| 7 | 51 | 49 |
| 8 | 50 | 50 |
| 9 | 50 | 50 |
| 10 | 50 | 50 |
| 11 | 50 | 50 |
| 12 | 49 | 51 |
| 13 | 49 | 51 |
| 14 | 50 | 50 |
| 15 | 50 | 50 |
| 16 | 50 | 50 |
| 17 | 50 | 50 |
| 18 | 51 | 49 |
| 19 | 51 | 49 |
| 20 | 51 | 49 |
| 21 | 51 | 49 |
| 22 | 51 | 49 |
| 23 | 51 | 49 |
| 24 | 51 | 49 |
| 25 | 51 | 49 |
| 26 | 50 | 50 |
| 27 | 50 | 50 |
| 28 | 49 | 51 |
| 29 | 49 | 51 |
| 30 | 49 | 51 |
| 31 | 50 | 50 |
Chance of precipitation in December
Durham gets around 3.5 in of rain and snow over 9.2 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 30% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Snow chance (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Rain chance (%) | Snow chance (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 | 1 |
| 2 | 28 | 1 |
| 3 | 28 | 1 |
| 4 | 28 | 1 |
| 5 | 28 | 1 |
| 6 | 29 | 2 |
| 7 | 29 | 2 |
| 8 | 29 | 2 |
| 9 | 29 | 2 |
| 10 | 29 | 2 |
| 11 | 30 | 2 |
| 12 | 30 | 2 |
| 13 | 30 | 2 |
| 14 | 31 | 2 |
| 15 | 31 | 2 |
| 16 | 31 | 2 |
| 17 | 31 | 2 |
| 18 | 31 | 2 |
| 19 | 31 | 2 |
| 20 | 31 | 2 |
| 21 | 31 | 2 |
| 22 | 31 | 2 |
| 23 | 31 | 2 |
| 24 | 31 | 2 |
| 25 | 31 | 2 |
| 26 | 31 | 3 |
| 27 | 31 | 3 |
| 28 | 30 | 3 |
| 29 | 30 | 3 |
| 30 | 30 | 3 |
| 31 | 30 | 3 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 94% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 96 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 94 | 94 | 93 | 93 |
| Comfortable (%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Humid (%) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 2 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 3 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 92 | 5 | 3 |
| 7 | 94 | 4 | 2 |
| 8 | 94 | 4 | 2 |
| 9 | 94 | 4 | 2 |
| 10 | 94 | 4 | 2 |
| 11 | 95 | 3 | 2 |
| 12 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 13 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 14 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 15 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 16 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 17 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 19 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 20 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 22 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 23 | 96 | 3 | 1 |
| 24 | 95 | 4 | 1 |
| 25 | 95 | 4 | 1 |
| 26 | 95 | 4 | 1 |
| 27 | 95 | 4 | 1 |
| 28 | 94 | 5 | 1 |
| 29 | 94 | 5 | 1 |
| 30 | 93 | 5 | 2 |
| 31 | 93 | 5 | 2 |
Wind in December
Winds average 7 mph in December.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (mph) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (mph) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | calm |
| 2 | 7 | calm |
| 3 | 7 | calm |
| 4 | 7 | calm |
| 5 | 7 | calm |
| 6 | 7 | calm |
| 7 | 7 | calm |
| 8 | 7 | calm |
| 9 | 7 | calm |
| 10 | 7 | calm |
| 11 | 7 | calm |
| 12 | 7 | calm |
| 13 | 7 | calm |
| 14 | 7 | calm |
| 15 | 7 | calm |
| 16 | 7 | calm |
| 17 | 7 | calm |
| 18 | 7 | calm |
| 19 | 7 | calm |
| 20 | 7 | calm |
| 21 | 7 | calm |
| 22 | 7 | calm |
| 23 | 7 | calm |
| 24 | 7 | calm |
| 25 | 7 | calm |
| 26 | 7 | calm |
| 27 | 7 | calm |
| 28 | 7 | calm |
| 29 | 7 | calm |
| 30 | 7 | calm |
| 31 | 7 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 9 h 42 min at the start of December to 9 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:13 AM to 7:31 AM, and sunset from 4:57 PM to 5:06 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:13 | 7:14 | 7:15 | 7:16 | 7:17 | 7:18 | 7:18 | 7:19 | 7:20 | 7:21 | 7:21 | 7:22 | 7:23 | 7:23 | 7:24 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:26 | 7:26 | 7:27 | 7:28 | 7:28 | 7:28 | 7:29 | 7:29 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:31 | 7:31 | 7:31 |
| Sunset (PM) | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:57 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 4:59 | 4:59 | 4:59 | 5:00 | 5:00 | 5:01 | 5:01 | 5:02 | 5:02 | 5:03 | 5:03 | 5:04 | 5:04 | 5:05 | 5:06 | 5:06 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.7 | 7:13 | 4:57 |
| 2 | 9.7 | 7:14 | 4:57 |
| 3 | 9.7 | 7:15 | 4:57 |
| 4 | 9.7 | 7:16 | 4:57 |
| 5 | 9.7 | 7:17 | 4:57 |
| 6 | 9.7 | 7:18 | 4:57 |
| 7 | 9.6 | 7:18 | 4:57 |
| 8 | 9.6 | 7:19 | 4:57 |
| 9 | 9.6 | 7:20 | 4:57 |
| 10 | 9.6 | 7:21 | 4:57 |
| 11 | 9.6 | 7:21 | 4:58 |
| 12 | 9.6 | 7:22 | 4:58 |
| 13 | 9.6 | 7:23 | 4:58 |
| 14 | 9.6 | 7:23 | 4:58 |
| 15 | 9.6 | 7:24 | 4:58 |
| 16 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 4:59 |
| 17 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 4:59 |
| 18 | 9.6 | 7:26 | 4:59 |
| 19 | 9.6 | 7:26 | 5:00 |
| 20 | 9.6 | 7:27 | 5:00 |
| 21 | 9.6 | 7:28 | 5:01 |
| 22 | 9.6 | 7:28 | 5:01 |
| 23 | 9.6 | 7:28 | 5:02 |
| 24 | 9.6 | 7:29 | 5:02 |
| 25 | 9.6 | 7:29 | 5:03 |
| 26 | 9.6 | 7:30 | 5:03 |
| 27 | 9.6 | 7:30 | 5:04 |
| 28 | 9.6 | 7:30 | 5:04 |
| 29 | 9.6 | 7:31 | 5:05 |
| 30 | 9.6 | 7:31 | 5:06 |
| 31 | 9.6 | 7:31 | 5:06 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 2.24 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.24 kWh/m² to a high of 6.15 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 2.24 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 2 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 3 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 4 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 5 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 6 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 7 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 8 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 9 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 10 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 11 | 2.3 | Moderate |
| 12 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 13 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 14 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 15 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 16 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 17 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 18 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 19 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 20 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 21 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 22 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 23 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 24 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 25 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 26 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 27 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 28 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 29 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 30 | 2.2 | Moderate |
| 31 | 2.3 | Moderate |
Is December a good time to visit Durham?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Durham.
What to pack for Durham in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, Durham sees daytime highs around 53°F and nights near 36°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.
UV index in Durham in December
Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Durham peaks around July 13 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 5 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Durham in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Durham is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.3× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 12 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Moderate |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Durham?
Durham sits at 36.0°N, 78.9°W, 404 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Chapel Hill, 11 mi away.
Topography around Durham
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Durham.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Durham has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 184 ft around an average of 374 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 614 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,122 ft.
The land around Durham is covered by trees (61%) and artificial surfaces (34%) within 2 miles, trees (78%) within 10 miles, and trees (78%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Durham (35.994°, -78.8986°, elevation 404 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).