Lawrence, IN climate
Lawrence has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 27 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lawrence feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lawrence 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 | 35° | 20° | 2.9" | 8.4" | 12 | 11 | 19° – 39° |
| February | 40° | 23° | 2.4" | 7.2" | 11 | 9 | 19° – 42° |
| March | 51° | 31° | 3.3" | 3.6" | 12 | 2 | 34° – 55° |
| April | 63° | 41° | 4.3" | 0.2" | 12 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| May | 73° | 52° | 4.8" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 56° – 71° |
| June | 82° | 61° | 5.2" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 67° – 75° |
| July | 85° | 64° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 69° – 81° |
| August | 83° | 62° | 3.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 68° – 78° |
| September | 78° | 54° | 3.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| October | 65° | 43° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| November | 51° | 33° | 3.5" | 0.6" | 10 | 0 | 35° – 49° |
| December | 40° | 25° | 3.0" | 6.7" | 13 | 7 | 19° – 42° |
| Year | 62° | 42° | 43.6" | 26.7" | 134 | 30 |
“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 Lawrence
Lawrence gets 44 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 134 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 30 days of the year.
About 190 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 18 and the first one by October 26. That leaves about 190 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 64% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lawrence
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lawrence, 84% of that work is heating and 16% 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.
Lawrence and its neighbors
Lawrence borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. Lawrence has the coldest January nights (20°) and Indianapolis the hottest July afternoons (85°). Lawrence’s January low is 20° and its July high 85°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Lawrence 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 Lawrence averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 80% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lawrence’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 19° to 42°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Lawrence’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lawrence?
January, with a typical high of 35° and a low of 20°.
What is the hottest month in Lawrence?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 64°. About 19 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lawrence get?
About 27 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Lawrence?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 26, and the last spring frost by April 18.
What is the rainiest month in Lawrence?
June, with 5.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 44 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lawrence itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Castleton 2 S, IN (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.