New Canaan, CT climate
New Canaan has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in New Canaan feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
New Canaan 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 21° | 3.4" | 9.1" | 11 | 22° – 36° |
| February | 41° | 22° | 2.9" | 11.9" | 8 | 19° – 38° |
| March | 49° | 29° | 4.1" | 5.9" | 10 | 33° – 48° |
| April | 61° | 39° | 4.1" | 0.5" | 12 | 45° – 54° |
| May | 71° | 49° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 55° – 65° |
| June | 79° | 58° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 66° – 71° |
| July | 84° | 64° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 69° – 78° |
| August | 82° | 62° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 68° – 77° |
| September | 75° | 55° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 62° – 70° |
| October | 64° | 44° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 50° – 61° |
| November | 53° | 34° | 3.6" | 0.8" | 10 | 39° – 48° |
| December | 43° | 27° | 4.1" | 5.8" | 11 | 27° – 46° |
| Year | 62° | 42° | 48.0" | 34.0" | 124 |
“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 New Canaan
New Canaan gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 124 days a year.
About 188 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 17 and the first one by October 23. That leaves about 188 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 62% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in New Canaan
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In New Canaan, 86% of that work is heating and 14% 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.
New Canaan and its neighbors
New Canaan borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 4.6°. Lewisboro has the coldest January nights (20°) and Stamford the hottest July afternoons (85°). New Canaan’s January low is 21° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How New Canaan 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 New Canaan averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°). The shift is larger than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at New Canaan’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 New Canaan’s climate
What is the coldest month in New Canaan?
January, with a typical high of 38° and a low of 21°.
What is the hottest month in New Canaan?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 64°. About 18 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does New Canaan get?
About 34 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in New Canaan?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 17.
What is the rainiest month in New Canaan?
September, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for New Canaan itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Stamford 5 N, CT (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.