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Climate in Howe · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Howe has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Howe at a glance

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

Jan32°17° 15" snow
Feb35°19° 10" snow
Mar46°27°
Apr60°37° Last frost ~26
May71°48° Nice outWettest
Jun80°58° Nice out3 days 90°+
Jul83°61° Nice out4 days 90°+
Aug81°60° Nice out2 days 90°+
Sep75°52° Nice out
Oct now62°42° Nice outFirst frost ~21
Nov48°32°
Dec37°23° 9" snow

What stands out about Howe’s climate

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

★ What stands out · Rain & snow

41 inches of snow, 38 of rain and melt

May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 144 days a year.

38"
Rain + melted snow a year
49th driest of 1,978 Indiana towns
Less than 58% of U.S. towns
41"
Snow in a normal winter
110th snowiest of 1,972 Indiana towns
More than 72% of U.S. towns
60 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
The snowiest of 1,439 Indiana towns
More than 71% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.3"
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Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

15"
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Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Howe averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.8°).

+1.3°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 57% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.3°now 27°, was 25°
🌷 Spring+1.5°now 48°, was 47°
☀️ Summer+0.5°now 71°, was 70°
🍂 Fall+1.0°now 52°, was 51°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
A normal year

What a year in Howe feels like

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

Winter
35° / 20°
15 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
59° / 38°
Last frost around Apr 26
Summer
81° / 60°
11 days reach 90°
Fall
62° / 42°
First frost around Oct 21
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost & heat

About 176 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first by October 21.

140
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
8
nights below 0° in a normal year
11
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

29
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90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

4.1
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Living here

Living with Howe’s climate

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

The garden window

176 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 26 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 21.

Snow season

About 41" a winter over 15 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 60 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 90% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 11 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August, September and October. 0.3 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

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

Natural hazards →
Compared with other towns

How Howe compares

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

Summer heat83° July high
Cooler than 63% of U.S. towns236th coolest of 1,978 Indiana towns
Winter cold17° January low
Colder than 60% of U.S. towns409th coldest of 1,978 Indiana towns
Precipitation38" a year
Drier than 58% of U.S. towns49th driest of 1,978 Indiana towns
Snow41" a winter
Snowier than 72% of U.S. towns110th snowiest of 1,972 Indiana towns
Growing season176 frost-free days
Shorter than 53% of U.S. towns693rd shortest of 1,978 Indiana towns
Month by month

Howe 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
January32°17°2.4" 15.0"152115° – 36°
February35°19°2.0" 9.7"121714° – 37°
March46°27°2.2" 3.7"11626° – 51°
April60°37°3.5" 0.6"13141° – 54°
May71°48°4.3" 013052° – 66°
June80°58°4.1" 011064° – 73°
July83°61°3.8" 010067° – 78°
August81°60°3.8" 011066° – 76°
September75°52°3.2" 010059° – 68°
October62°42°3.4" 012048° – 58°
November48°32°2.8" 2.9"13333° – 47°
December37°23°2.3" 9.3"141317° – 40°
Year59°40°37.7"41.2"14460
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Howe

90% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

90%heating
6,427 heating degree daysMore heating than 65% of U.S. towns
731 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 59% 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. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 26° to 51°. September is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Howe’s climate

What is the coldest month in Howe?

January, with a typical high of 32° and a low of 17°.

What is the hottest month in Howe?

July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 61°. About 11 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Howe get?

About 41 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Howe?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 21, and the last spring frost by April 26.

What is the rainiest month in Howe?

May, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 38 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

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

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Howe winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Howe itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Three Rivers, MI (18 mi, snow) and Lagrange, IN (5 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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