Guest, Sign inJoin
Climate in South Deerfield · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

South Deerfield has cold, snowy winters and warm summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 46 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in South Deerfield at a glance

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

Jan34°15° 13" snow
Feb38°17° 12" snow
Mar46°25° 9" snow
Apr59°35°
May71°46° Nice outLast frost ~5
Jun80°55° Nice out2 days 90°+
Jul85°61° 5 days 90°+
Aug83°59° Nice out3 days 90°+
Sep75°51° Nice out
Oct now62°40° First frost ~8Wettest
Nov50°31°
Dec39°22° 9" snow

What stands out about South Deerfield’s climate

Read from where South Deerfield sits among Massachusetts’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Frost & heat

About 156 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 and the first by October 8.

153
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
10
nights below 0° in a normal year
12
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

29
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

5.3
JFMAMJJASOND
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in South Deerfield averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°).

+1.6°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 78% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.9°now 27°, was 25°
🌷 Spring+1.0°now 47°, was 46°
☀️ Summer+1.3°now 70°, was 69°
🍂 Fall+1.4°now 52°, was 50°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Living here

Living with South Deerfield’s climate

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

The garden window

156 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 5 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 8.

Snow season

About 46" a winter over 12 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 66 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 92% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 12 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 85°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, August and September. 7.9 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 →
A normal year

What a year in South Deerfield feels like

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

Winter
37° / 18°
12 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
59° / 36°
Last frost around May 5
Summer
82° / 58°
12 days reach 90°
Fall
63° / 41°
First frost around Oct 8
Best months to be outsideMayJunAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

46 inches of snow, 47 of rain and melt

October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 130 days a year.

47"
Rain + melted snow a year
117th driest of 541 Massachusetts towns
More than 78% of U.S. towns
46"
Snow in a normal winter
204th least snowy of 534 Massachusetts towns
More than 77% of U.S. towns
66 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
106th snowiest of 422 Massachusetts towns
More than 75% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.7"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

13"
JFMAMJJASOND
Next door

South Deerfield and its neighbors

Deerfield has the coldest January nights next door (15°) and Deerfield the hottest July afternoons (85°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Greenfield: January low 15°, July high 85°Montague: January low 15°, July high 84°Conway: January low 14°, July high 83°Shelburne: January low 14°, July high 82°Leverett: January low 15°, July high 82°Hatfield: January low 15°, July high 85°Williamsburg: January low 14°, July high 82°Deerfield: January low 15°, July high 85°Sunderland: January low 15°, July high 84°Whately: January low 15°, July high 84°South Deerfield: January low 15°, July high 85° South DeerfieldDeerfieldSunderlandWhately
ColderMilder14° to 15°
Deerfield14.8° −0.1°
South Deerfield14.9°
Sunderland15.0° +0.1°
Whately15.0° +0.1°

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Compared with other towns

How South Deerfield compares

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

Summer heat85° July high
Cooler than 51% of U.S. towns12th hottest of 541 Massachusetts towns
Winter cold15° January low
Colder than 70% of U.S. towns114th coldest of 541 Massachusetts towns
Precipitation47" a year
Wetter than 78% of U.S. towns117th driest of 541 Massachusetts towns
Snow46" a winter
Snowier than 77% of U.S. towns204th least snowy of 534 Massachusetts towns
Growing season156 frost-free days
Shorter than 75% of U.S. towns83rd shortest of 539 Massachusetts towns
Month by month

South Deerfield 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
January34°15°3.3" 12.8"122014° – 32°
February38°17°3.0" 12.4"101913° – 34°
March46°25°3.5" 8.8"101229° – 45°
April59°35°3.8" 1.4"11143° – 51°
May71°46°3.7" 013054° – 64°
June80°55°4.5" 012064° – 71°
July85°61°4.2" 012068° – 77°
August83°59°4.3" 010067° – 75°
September75°51°4.5" 09060° – 67°
October62°40°4.7" 011046° – 57°
November50°31°3.5" 1.6"10236° – 46°
December39°22°4.2" 8.7"111224° – 41°
Year60°38°47.1"45.7"13066
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in South Deerfield

92% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

92%heating
6,664 heating degree daysMore heating than 68% of U.S. towns
580 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 71% 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. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 13° to 34°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about South Deerfield’s climate

What is the coldest month in South Deerfield?

January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of 15°.

What is the hottest month in South Deerfield?

July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 61°. About 12 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does South Deerfield get?

About 46 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in South Deerfield?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 8, and the last spring frost by May 5.

What is the rainiest month in South Deerfield?

October, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 47 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in South Deerfield.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are South Deerfield 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 South Deerfield itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Sunderland, MA (3 mi, snow) and Amherst, MA (7 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.

Post to South Deerfield

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in