Altoona, AL climate
Altoona has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 33°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Altoona feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Altoona weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52° | 33° | 5.4" | 0.3" | 9 | 0 | 34° – 49° |
| February | 56° | 35° | 5.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 37° – 54° |
| March | 65° | 42° | 5.8" | 1.4" | 10 | 0 | 48° – 63° |
| April | 73° | 49° | 5.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 66° |
| May | 80° | 58° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| June | 86° | 66° | 5.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 89° | 69° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| August | 89° | 68° | 4.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 84° |
| September | 84° | 62° | 4.1" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 69° – 79° |
| October | 74° | 51° | 3.7" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| November | 63° | 40° | 4.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 46° – 58° |
| December | 54° | 35° | 5.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 36° – 55° |
| Year | 72° | 51° | 57.5" | 1.7" | 108 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Altoona
Altoona gets 57 inches of rain and melted snow a year. March is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 108 days a year.
About 230 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 26 and the first one by November 10. That leaves about 230 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 86% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Altoona
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Altoona, 60% of that work is heating and 40% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Altoona compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Altoona averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.7°). The shift is smaller than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Altoona’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 36° to 55°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Altoona’s climate
What is the coldest month in Altoona?
January, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Altoona?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 69°. About 52 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Altoona get?
About 2 inches in a normal winter, most of it in March.
When is the first frost in Altoona?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 10, and the last spring frost by March 26.
What is the rainiest month in Altoona?
March, with 5.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 57 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Altoona itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Walnut Grove, AL (2 mi, snow) and Oneonta, AL (10 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.