Silver Lake sits near the top of U.S. towns for precipitation, with 58 inches a year
In January the night’s low is typically 36°. Winters are mild: January nights here are milder than in 83% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.0°, most of all in December. Tender plants can go out after about March 20; in half of years the first frost comes by November 15.
A year in Silver Lake at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Silver Lake’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Silver Lake’s place in North Carolina beside it.
What a year in Silver Lake feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 241 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 20 and the first by November 15. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Wilmington 7 Se, NC, 1.7 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Silver Lake’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 18°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 58 inches of rain a year
September is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain falls on about 122 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.9" in a normal year at Wilmington International Airport, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Silver Lake
53% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from December through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Wilmington 7 Se, NC.
Living with Silver Lake’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
241 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 20 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 15.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, May, September, October and November. 1.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Silver Lake from natural hazards, hurricanes are the largest share (66%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 3%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Silver Lake and its neighbors
Wilmington has the coldest January nights next door (34°, 2° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Silver Lake’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake, NC | 36° | 89° | 58" | 0.9" |
| Kosciusko, MS | 34° | 91° | 58" | 1.3" |
| Oneonta, AL | 32° | 89° | 57" | 1.4" |
| Toccoa, GA | 33° | 89° | 57" | 1.4" |
| Berea, SC | 32° | 89° | 56" | 1.9" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Silver Lake averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.8°).
A smaller shift than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Silver Lake compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Silver Lake’s place among North Carolina’s.
Silver Lake weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Silver Lake’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Wilmington International Airport. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 36° | 3.9" | 0.7" | 10 | 1 | 40° – 53° |
| February | 60° | 38° | 3.4" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 40° – 58° |
| March | 66° | 44° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 49° – 62° |
| April | 74° | 52° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| May | 80° | 61° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 66° – 76° |
| June | 86° | 69° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| July | 89° | 73° | 6.4" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 78° – 84° |
| August | 88° | 72° | 7.1" | 0.0" | 14 | 0 | 77° – 82° |
| September | 83° | 67° | 8.2" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 72° – 79° |
| October | 76° | 56° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| November | 67° | 45° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| December | 60° | 39° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 38° – 61° |
| Year | 74° | 54° | 57.5" | 0.9" | 122 | 1 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 38° to 61°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where Silver Lake’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Silver Lake’s center.
- Snow: Wilmington International Airport.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Wilmington 7 Se, NC, 1.7 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Silver Lake’s climate
What is the weather like in Silver Lake?
A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 36°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 83% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 74% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Silver Lake in winter?
January nights average 36°. About 41 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 40°.
How much snow does Silver Lake get?
About 0.9 inches in a normal winter at Wilmington International Airport, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Silver Lake?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 73°. About 53 days a year reach 90° (Wilmington 7 Se, NC).
When is the first and last frost in Silver Lake?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 20 and the first fall frost by November 15, about 241 frost-free days, at Wilmington 7 Se, NC.
What growing zone is Silver Lake in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 18°.
What is the best time of year to visit Silver Lake?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, May, September, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Silver Lake getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 77% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Silver Lake.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.