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Climate in Andover · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Andover has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Andover at a glance

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

Jan29°13° 9" snow
Feb34°17° 8" snow
Mar47°28° 4" snow
Apr60°38° Last frost ~13
May71°50° Nice out
Jun81°60° Nice out3 days 90°+
Jul84°63° Nice out5 days 90°+
Aug82°61° Nice out3 days 90°+
Sep75°53° Nice out
Oct now62°42° Nice outFirst frost ~26
Nov47°30°
Dec34°19° 8" snow

What stands out about Andover’s climate

Read from where Andover sits among Iowa’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Living here

Living with Andover’s climate

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

The garden window

195 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 13 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.

Snow season

About 32" a winter over 11 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 51 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 87% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 13 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 84°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August, September and October.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

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

Natural hazards →
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Andover averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.3°).

+1.1°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 60% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+1.8°now 24°, was 23°
🌷 Spring+1.3°now 49°, was 48°
☀️ Summer+0.5°now 72°, was 71°
🍂 Fall+0.9°now 52°, was 51°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Rain & snow

32 inches of snow, 38 of rain and melt

June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 118 days a year.

38"
Rain + melted snow a year
89th wettest of 1,026 Iowa towns
Less than 55% of U.S. towns
32"
Snow in a normal winter
482nd snowiest of 1,020 Iowa towns
More than 60% of U.S. towns
51 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
238th least snowy of 828 Iowa towns
More than 66% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

5.2"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

9.2"
JFMAMJJASOND
A normal year

What a year in Andover feels like

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

Winter
32° / 16°
11 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
59° / 39°
Last frost around Apr 13
Summer
82° / 61°
13 days reach 90°
Fall
62° / 42°
First frost around Oct 26
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost & heat

About 195 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 13 and the first by October 26.

132
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
14
nights below 0° in a normal year
13
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

30
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

5.3
JFMAMJJASOND
Compared with other towns

How Andover compares

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

Summer heat84° July high
Cooler than 61% of U.S. towns411th coolest of 1,026 Iowa towns
Winter cold13° January low
Colder than 75% of U.S. towns263rd mildest of 1,026 Iowa towns
Precipitation38" a year
Drier than 55% of U.S. towns89th wettest of 1,026 Iowa towns
Snow32" a winter
Snowier than 60% of U.S. towns482nd snowiest of 1,020 Iowa towns
Growing season195 frost-free days
Longer than 69% of U.S. towns7th longest of 1,026 Iowa towns
Month by month

Andover 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
January29°13°1.4" 9.2"102012° – 33°
February34°17°1.8" 7.5"81412° – 37°
March47°28°2.4" 3.9"10429° – 52°
April60°38°3.8" 0.8"11040° – 56°
May71°50°4.5" 013055° – 67°
June81°60°5.2" 012067° – 74°
July84°63°4.2" 09067° – 80°
August82°61°3.9" 010066° – 78°
September75°53°4.0" 08059° – 69°
October62°42°2.8" 0.3"9047° – 58°
November47°30°2.4" 2.3"9231° – 48°
December34°19°1.9" 7.9"101113° – 36°
Year59°40°38.2"31.9"11851
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Andover

87% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

87%heating
6,394 heating degree daysMore heating than 64% of U.S. towns
937 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 57% 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 12° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Andover’s climate

What is the coldest month in Andover?

January, with a typical high of 29° and a low of 13°.

What is the hottest month in Andover?

July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 63°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Andover get?

About 32 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Andover?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 26, and the last spring frost by April 13.

What is the rainiest month in Andover?

June, with 5.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 38 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Andover.

Town Square →
Weigh in
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Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Andover itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Clinton #1, IA (13 mi, snow) and Fulton L&d #13, IL (8 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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