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Durham Weather Today

Live rain radar, current conditions, an hour-by-hour outlook and a seven-day forecast for Durham, with original writing about the city's climate from The Daily Durham.

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Animated rain radar via RainViewer (National Weather Service sources). Full National Weather Service radar loop.

From the weather desk

Durham weather, explained

How to read the Durham forecast

A good forecast is really three views at once. The current panel tells you what it feels like outside right now, which is what matters before you head out the door. The hourly strip is for planning the next part of your day: when the rain band arrives, when the wind picks up, when it is warm enough to walk. The seven-day outlook is for the week ahead, and it is most reliable in the first three or four days. Read it from the top down and you will almost always have what you need for Durham.

What the UV index actually means

The UV index rates the strength of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on a simple scale. Below 3 is low and you can be outside safely without protection. From 3 to 7 is moderate to high, the point at which sunburn becomes likely within an hour, so a hat and sunscreen earn their keep. Above 8 is very high to extreme, and skin can burn in minutes around the middle of the day. The index peaks at solar noon, not at the hottest part of the afternoon, so the safest habit is to check the number rather than judge by the temperature.

Why the overnight low matters as much as the high

Daytime maximums get the headlines, but the overnight minimum shapes how the day actually feels. A cold night means a slow, crisp start and, on clear evenings, the chance of fog or frost before dawn. A mild night means the warmth carries over and the morning is comfortable from the outset. Clear skies let heat escape and push the low down; cloud cover traps it and keeps the night warmer. That is why two days with the same maximum can feel completely different depending on the night that came before.

Weather data by Open-Meteo. The Daily Durham is independent and not affiliated with any government weather agency.

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