Chapel Hill (NC) Rainfall & Precipitation: Monthly Averages and Year-Round Insights

This page shows the average amount of rainfall per month in Chapel Hill (NC). The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average. Now, let’s explore all the details to give you a full picture.

Chapel Hill has a notably wet climate with abundant precipitation, recording 1213 mm of rain/snowfall per year.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm)

While rainfall varies throughout the year, each season offers its own charm. September brings wetter days averaging 136 mm of precipitation, spread over 10 rainy days.

In contrast, January experiences a drier climate, with about 71 mm of rainfall spread across 10 rainy days.

September, the city’s wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 28°C. During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of 10°C. For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, visit our Chapel Hill Temperature page.

Annual Precipitation in the United States of America

The map below shows the annual precipitation across the United States of America. You can also select the different months in case you are interested in a specific month.

Amsterdam Precipitation Compared World Wide

Chapel Hill’s average annual precipitation is 1213 mm. Let’s compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

The climate in San Francisco, USA, is influenced by coastal weather, with 469 mm of rainfall mostly during the winter months.

Meanwhile, Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with 1000 mm of annual rainfall, mostly in the summer.

Melbourne, Australia, has 690 mm of rainfall annually, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Mumbai, India, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1860 mm of annual rainfall, with the majority of precipitation happening during the monsoon season from June to September.

How is Precipitation Measured?

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Interesting weather facts

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about Chapel Hill (NC)’s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Chapel Hill (NC) Climate page.