Moscow, ID climate
Moscow has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Moscow feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Moscow 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 | 38° | 25° | 3.0" | 14.5" | 16 | 16 | 21° – 37° |
| February | 42° | 26° | 2.4" | 8.6" | 14 | 9 | 24° – 41° |
| March | 50° | 30° | 2.6" | 4.9" | 16 | 3 | 32° – 46° |
| April | 57° | 34° | 2.5" | 1.0" | 13 | 0 | 41° – 51° |
| May | 66° | 41° | 2.4" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| June | 73° | 45° | 1.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| July | 84° | 49° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59° – 71° |
| August | 85° | 48° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| September | 75° | 42° | 0.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| October | 60° | 35° | 2.1" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 41° – 54° |
| November | 45° | 30° | 3.1" | 6.0" | 16 | 4 | 29° – 44° |
| December | 37° | 24° | 3.2" | 15.5" | 16 | 14 | 25° – 35° |
| Year | 59° | 36° | 24.9" | 50.9" | 136 | 46 |
“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 Moscow
Moscow gets 25 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 136 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 46 days of the year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Moscow
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Moscow, 97% of that work is heating and 3% 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.
How Moscow 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 Moscow averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.7°). The shift is larger than in 57% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Moscow’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 24° to 41°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Moscow’s climate
What is the coldest month in Moscow?
December, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Moscow?
August, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 48°. About 23 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Moscow get?
About 51 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Moscow?
Frost is uncommon. Only 100% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Moscow?
December, with 3.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 25 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Moscow itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Moscow U Of I, ID (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.