Shirland, IL climate
Shirland has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Shirland feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Shirland 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 | 28° | 13° | 1.5" | 10.8" | 10 | 11° – 33° |
| February | 33° | 16° | 1.6" | 10.1" | 9 | 12° – 37° |
| March | 45° | 26° | 2.1" | 4.1" | 10 | 27° – 51° |
| April | 59° | 37° | 3.7" | 1.3" | 12 | 38° – 54° |
| May | 71° | 48° | 4.3" | 0 | 13 | 54° – 65° |
| June | 80° | 58° | 5.4" | 0 | 13 | 66° – 74° |
| July | 83° | 62° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 67° – 80° |
| August | 81° | 60° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 65° – 77° |
| September | 75° | 52° | 3.7" | 0 | 10 | 57° – 68° |
| October | 62° | 41° | 2.9" | 0.2" | 10 | 47° – 58° |
| November | 46° | 30° | 2.3" | 2.4" | 9 | 29° – 48° |
| December | 34° | 19° | 1.9" | 7.7" | 10 | 13° – 37° |
| Year | 58° | 38° | 37.5" | 36.6" | 127 |
“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 Shirland
Shirland gets 37 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 127 days a year.
About 170 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first one by October 15. That leaves about 170 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 61% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Shirland
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Shirland, 91% of that work is heating and 9% 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.
Shirland and its neighbors
Shirland borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.3°. Laona has the coldest January nights (13°) and Harrison the hottest July afternoons (84°). Shirland’s January low is 13° and its July high 83°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Shirland 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 Shirland averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 65% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Shirland’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 12° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Shirland’s climate
What is the coldest month in Shirland?
January, with a typical high of 28° and a low of 13°.
What is the hottest month in Shirland?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 62°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Shirland get?
About 37 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Shirland?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 15, and the last spring frost by April 26.
What is the rainiest month in Shirland?
June, with 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 37 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Shirland itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Afton - Janesville WWTP, WI (14 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.