Hockessin, DE climate
Hockessin has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Hockessin feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Hockessin 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 | 40° | 24° | 3.4" | 5.3" | 10 | 24° – 39° |
| February | 43° | 25° | 2.9" | 4.0" | 9 | 24° – 42° |
| March | 52° | 32° | 4.3" | 1.8" | 11 | 37° – 50° |
| April | 64° | 42° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 49° – 58° |
| May | 73° | 51° | 3.7" | 0 | 11 | 58° – 68° |
| June | 82° | 61° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 68° – 76° |
| July | 86° | 66° | 4.7" | 0 | 9 | 72° – 80° |
| August | 85° | 64° | 4.4" | 0 | 9 | 70° – 78° |
| September | 78° | 57° | 4.7" | 0 | 9 | 64° – 71° |
| October | 66° | 46° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 51° – 62° |
| November | 55° | 36° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 8 | 39° – 50° |
| December | 45° | 28° | 4.1" | 0.8" | 10 | 29° – 49° |
| Year | 64° | 44° | 48.1" | 12.0" | 113 |
“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 Hockessin
Hockessin gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 113 days a year.
About 209 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first one by November 4. That leaves about 209 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 78% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Hockessin
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Hockessin, 84% of that work is heating and 16% 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.
Hockessin and its neighbors
Hockessin borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.7°. North Star has the coldest January nights (23°) and Pike Creek the hottest July afternoons (87°). Hockessin’s January low is 24° and its July high 86°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Hockessin 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 Hockessin averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°). The shift is larger than in 90% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Hockessin’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 29° to 49°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Hockessin’s climate
What is the coldest month in Hockessin?
January, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Hockessin?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 66°. About 17 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Hockessin get?
About 12 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Hockessin?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 4, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in Hockessin?
July, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Hockessin itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Wilmington Porter Rsch, DE (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.