Branford, CT climate
Branford has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Branford feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Branford 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 | 39° | 23° | 3.4" | 8.5" | 11 | 11 | 22° – 37° |
| February | 41° | 24° | 3.0" | 10.7" | 10 | 12 | 19° – 38° |
| March | 48° | 31° | 4.1" | 7.0" | 11 | 6 | 34° – 47° |
| April | 59° | 40° | 4.3" | 0.9" | 11 | 0 | 45° – 54° |
| May | 69° | 49° | 3.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 54° – 64° |
| June | 78° | 59° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 71° |
| July | 84° | 66° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 78° |
| August | 82° | 65° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 70° – 77° |
| September | 75° | 58° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 64° – 71° |
| October | 64° | 47° | 4.3" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| November | 53° | 37° | 3.6" | 0.9" | 9 | 0 | 40° – 49° |
| December | 44° | 29° | 4.1" | 5.5" | 12 | 5 | 30° – 47° |
| Year | 61° | 44° | 46.2" | 33.6" | 125 | 34 |
“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 Branford
Branford gets 46 inches of rain and melted snow a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 125 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 34 days of the year.
About 193 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 17 and the first one by October 27. That leaves about 193 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 67% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Branford
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Branford, 88% of that work is heating and 12% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
Branford and its neighbors
Branford borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 3.6°. North Branford has the coldest January nights (19°) and East Haven the hottest July afternoons (84°). Branford’s January low is 23° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Branford 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 Branford averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°). The shift is larger than in 87% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Branford’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 19° to 38°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Branford’s climate
What is the coldest month in Branford?
January, with a typical high of 39° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Branford?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 66°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Branford get?
About 34 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Branford?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 27, and the last spring frost by April 17.
What is the rainiest month in Branford?
October, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 46 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Branford itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem Airport, CT (20 mi, snow) and New Haven Tweed Airport, CT (5 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.