Kensington has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Kensington at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Kensington’s climate
Read from where Kensington sits among Connecticut’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
About 191 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 17 and the first by October 26.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
What a year in Kensington feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
39 inches of snow, 48 of rain and melt
October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 123 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with Kensington’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
191 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 17 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 26.
About 39" a winter over 10 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 42 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 86% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 17 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 85°.
The nicest months are May, June, August, September and October. 3.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Kensington and its neighbors
New Britain has the coldest January nights next door (19°) and New Britain the hottest July afternoons (85°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Kensington averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°).
A bigger shift than in 91% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Kensington compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Connecticut.
Kensington 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 | 37° | 19° | 3.5" | 11.1" | 10 | 13 | 20° – 35° |
| February | 40° | 21° | 3.1" | 11.8" | 9 | 13 | 16° – 37° |
| March | 48° | 28° | 4.1" | 5.5" | 10 | 9 | 31° – 47° |
| April | 61° | 37° | 4.1" | 0.5" | 11 | 0 | 45° – 54° |
| May | 71° | 48° | 3.7" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 55° – 64° |
| June | 80° | 57° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 71° |
| July | 85° | 63° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| August | 83° | 61° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| September | 76° | 54° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| October | 64° | 42° | 5.1" | 0.6" | 10 | 0 | 49° – 60° |
| November | 52° | 33° | 3.9" | 0.8" | 9 | 1 | 38° – 47° |
| December | 42° | 25° | 4.3" | 8.3" | 11 | 7 | 27° – 44° |
| Year | 61° | 41° | 48.4" | 38.6" | 123 | 42 |
Heating and cooling a home in Kensington
86% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 16° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Kensington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Kensington?
January, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 19°.
What is the hottest month in Kensington?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 63°. About 17 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Kensington get?
About 39 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Kensington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 26, and the last spring frost by April 17.
What is the rainiest month in Kensington?
October, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Kensington.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Kensington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Burlington, CT (14 mi, snow) and Hartford Brainard Fld, CT (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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.