Clinton, IL climate
Clinton has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Clinton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Clinton 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 | 34° | 18° | 2.2" | 5.7" | 9 | 11 | 19° – 38° |
| February | 39° | 21° | 1.9" | 6.2" | 9 | 7 | 18° – 40° |
| March | 51° | 31° | 2.7" | 1.8" | 11 | 2 | 34° – 55° |
| April | 64° | 41° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| May | 74° | 52° | 4.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 57° – 72° |
| June | 83° | 61° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| July | 85° | 64° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 69° – 81° |
| August | 84° | 62° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 79° |
| September | 79° | 54° | 3.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 61° – 72° |
| October | 66° | 43° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| November | 51° | 32° | 3.0" | 0.6" | 10 | 1 | 34° – 49° |
| December | 39° | 23° | 2.3" | 4.9" | 10 | 6 | 17° – 40° |
| Year | 62° | 42° | 38.9" | 19.3" | 118 | 25 |
“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 Clinton
Clinton gets 39 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 118 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 25 days of the year.
About 179 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 20 and the first one by October 16. That leaves about 179 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 51% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Clinton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Clinton, 85% of that work is heating and 15% 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 Clinton 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 Clinton averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.2°). The shift is smaller than in 57% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Clinton’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 17° to 40°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Clinton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Clinton?
January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Clinton?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 64°. About 24 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Clinton get?
About 19 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Clinton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 16, and the last spring frost by April 20.
What is the rainiest month in Clinton?
May, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 39 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Clinton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lincoln, IL (20 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.