Fall is less than a month away, but temperatures in Western North Carolina remain high as September starts.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration keeps yearly records of daily temperatures in each of the geographic areas of the U.S. for which it issues forecasts.
Due to its elevation, the Western N.C. region is often cooler than much of the rest of the Tar Heel State. Still, the 2026 summer season has been another hot one in Asheville and surrounding areas.
With fall finally on the way, here's when Western N.C. residents and visitors can expect to see cooler temperatures come to the mountains.
When does it normally get cold in Asheville, Western NC?
For the years of 2021-2025, NOAA found the average normal daily temperature in the Asheville area for the following months:
- August - 73.9 degrees
- September - 67.8 degrees
- October - 58.1 degrees
What is the average first freeze date in Asheville, NC?
Using data from 1901-2019,
North Carolina State University found the average date of the first yearly freeze in the Asheville area fell on Oct. 25. The average date of the last freeze of the season fell on April 11.
When was the first freeze in Asheville, Western NC in 2025?
According to data from NOAA, the date of the first freeze in the Asheville area during the 2026-2025 winter season fell on Nov. 1, 2025. The same NOAA data found that the last freeze of the 2025-2026 winter season in the Asheville area fell on March 29.
What is the first day of fall 2026?
The fall equinox, which marks the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 8:04 p.m.
What is the first day of winter 2026?
The winter solstice, which marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs Monday, Dec. 21, at 3:50 p.m.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Fall is coming. Here's when it usually gets cold in Western NC
