Counties with the coldest winters in North Carolina

#24. Burke County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 39.2 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.3 degrees
#24. Forsyth County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.8 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.8 degrees
#23. McDowell County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.3 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.5 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.9 degrees
#21. Wilkes County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.2 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.0 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +4.2 degrees
#21. Yadkin County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.2 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.3 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.9 degrees
#19. Caldwell County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.9 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.2 degrees
#19. Stokes County (tie)
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 42.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.2 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.9 degrees
#18. Surry County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 37.3 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +4.2 degrees
#17. Cherokee County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 40.8 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 38.7 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.2 degrees
#16. Clay County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 40.3 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 37.7 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.6 degrees
#15. Henderson County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 37.9 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.2 degrees
#14. Transylvania County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 39.9 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 37.0 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.9 degrees
#13. Madison County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 39.8 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 36.5 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.3 degrees
#12. Buncombe County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 36.4 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.1 degrees
#11. Macon County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 39.3 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 36.8 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.5 degrees
#10. Graham County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 39.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 36.8 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.3 degrees
#9. Alleghany County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 38.2 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 33.5 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +4.8 degrees
#8. Jackson County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 38.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 35.8 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.3 degrees
#7. Swain County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 37.3 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 35.1 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.2 degrees
#6. Yancey County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 37.2 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 33.7 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.5 degrees
#5. Mitchell County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 37.1 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 33.9 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.2 degrees
#4. Watauga County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 36.8 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 33.2 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.7 degrees
#3. Ashe County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 36.7 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 32.9 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.8 degrees
#2. Haywood County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 36.6 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 34.1 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +2.5 degrees
#1. Avery County
- Winter 2024 average temperature: 36.2 degrees Fahrenheit
- Historic average summer temperature: 32.6 degrees
-- 2024 difference from historic average: +3.6 degrees

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Andrea Vale, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 48 states.

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock