Opelika, AL climate
Opelika has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 34°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Opelika feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Opelika 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 | 56° | 34° | 5.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 37° – 52° |
| February | 61° | 37° | 5.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 41° – 58° |
| March | 68° | 43° | 5.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 50° – 64° |
| April | 75° | 49° | 4.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| May | 82° | 58° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| June | 88° | 66° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 5.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 76° – 83° |
| August | 89° | 68° | 4.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 76° – 84° |
| September | 85° | 63° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| October | 76° | 52° | 3.3" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| November | 66° | 42° | 4.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 48° – 59° |
| December | 58° | 37° | 5.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 39° – 56° |
| Year | 75° | 52° | 54.9" | 0.0" | 100 | 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 Opelika
Opelika gets 55 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 100 days a year.
About 223 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 29 and the first one by November 5. That leaves about 223 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 83% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Opelika
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Opelika, 61% of that work is heating and 39% 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 Opelika 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 Opelika averaged 0.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.5°). The shift is smaller than in 93% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Opelika’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 41° to 58°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Opelika’s climate
What is the coldest month in Opelika?
January, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 34°.
What is the hottest month in Opelika?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 51 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Opelika get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Opelika?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 5, and the last spring frost by March 29.
What is the rainiest month in Opelika?
December, with 5.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 55 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Opelika itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Opelika, AL (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.