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Climate in New Preston · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

New Preston has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain

A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in New Preston at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan34°16° 11" snow
Feb37°17° 14" snow
Mar45°24° 10" snow
Apr58°35°
May69°45° Nice outLast frost ~8
Jun77°54° Nice out
Jul82°60° Nice out3 days 90°+
Aug80°58° Nice out
Sep73°51° Nice out
Oct now61°39° First frost ~5Wettest
Nov49°30°
Dec39°22° 9" snow

What stands out about New Preston’s climate

Read from where New Preston sits among Connecticut’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Frost & heat

About 151 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 8 and the first by October 5.

158
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
8
nights below 0° in a normal year
7
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

29
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

3.3
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with New Preston’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

151 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 8 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 5.

Snow season

About 47" a winter over 14 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 49 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 94% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 7 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 9.8 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
A normal year

What a year in New Preston feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
37° / 18°
14 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
58° / 35°
Last frost around May 8
Summer
79° / 57°
7 days reach 90°
Fall
61° / 40°
First frost around Oct 5
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

47 inches of snow, 49 of rain and melt

October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 125 days a year.

49"
Rain + melted snow a year
160th wettest of 364 Connecticut towns
More than 84% of U.S. towns
47"
Snow in a normal winter
135th snowiest of 353 Connecticut towns
More than 78% of U.S. towns
49 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
44th snowiest of 241 Connecticut towns
More than 65% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.8"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

14"
JFMAMJJASOND
Next door

New Preston and its neighbors

Warren has the coldest January nights next door (15°) and New Milford the hottest July afternoons (84°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Bethlehem: January low 15°, July high 81°Roxbury: January low 17°, July high 83°Morris: January low 15°, July high 81°Litchfield: January low 15°, July high 81°Woodbury: January low 17°, July high 83°Bridgewater: January low 17°, July high 83°Sherman: January low 17°, July high 83°Gaylordsville: January low 17°, July high 84°Brookfield: January low 18°, July high 84°New Fairfield: January low 17°, July high 83°Chimney Point: January low 18°, July high 84°Candlewood Lake Club: January low 18°, July high 84°Cornwall: January low 15°, July high 81°Cornwall Bridge: January low 15°, July high 82°Dover: January low 17°, July high 84°Sharon: January low 15°, July high 81°Washington: January low 16°, July high 82°New Milford: January low 17°, July high 84°Warren: January low 15°, July high 80°Kent: January low 15°, July high 81°New Preston: January low 16°, July high 82° New PrestonWashingtonNew MilfordWarrenKent
ColderMilder15° to 18°
Warren14.7° −0.9°
Kent15.3° −0.3°
New Preston15.6°
Washington15.7° +0.1°
New Milford16.9° +1.3°

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.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in New Preston averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°).

+1.8°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 86% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.7°now 27°, was 25°
🌷 Spring+1.4°now 46°, was 45°
☀️ Summer+1.5°now 68°, was 67°
🍂 Fall+1.5°now 51°, was 49°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How New Preston compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Connecticut.

Summer heat82° July high
Cooler than 76% of U.S. towns48th coolest of 364 Connecticut towns
Winter cold16° January low
Colder than 68% of U.S. towns29th coldest of 364 Connecticut towns
Precipitation49" a year
Wetter than 84% of U.S. towns160th wettest of 364 Connecticut towns
Snow47" a winter
Snowier than 78% of U.S. towns135th snowiest of 353 Connecticut towns
Growing season151 frost-free days
Shorter than 80% of U.S. towns27th shortest of 364 Connecticut towns
Month by month

New Preston weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January34°16°3.5" 11.3"121516° – 32°
February37°17°2.9" 13.7"101514° – 34°
March45°24°3.9" 10.3"12928° – 46°
April58°35°3.9" 1.4"10141° – 51°
May69°45°3.8" 012052° – 63°
June77°54°4.6" 011063° – 69°
July82°60°4.5" 010066° – 75°
August80°58°4.4" 09065° – 72°
September73°51°4.5" 010058° – 67°
October61°39°4.8" 09046° – 56°
November49°30°3.8" 1.5"10135° – 45°
December39°22°4.2" 8.6"11923° – 42°
Year59°38°48.7"46.8"12549
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in New Preston

94% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

94%heating
6,841 heating degree daysMore heating than 71% of U.S. towns
431 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 82% of U.S. towns

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.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 14° to 34°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about New Preston’s climate

What is the coldest month in New Preston?

January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of 16°.

What is the hottest month in New Preston?

July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 60°. About 7 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does New Preston get?

About 47 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.

When is the first frost in New Preston?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 8.

What is the rainiest month in New Preston?

October, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in New Preston.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are New Preston winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for New Preston itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Woodbury, CT (11 mi, snow) and Bakersville, CT (20 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.

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