West Chatham has chilly winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 25 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in West Chatham at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about West Chatham’s climate
Read from where West Chatham sits among Massachusetts’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in West Chatham feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with West Chatham’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
221 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 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 Nov 15.
About 25" a winter over 7 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 21 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through May. Heating is 94% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
90° days are rare: July afternoons average 77°.
The nicest months are June, July, August and September. 6.2 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →25 inches of snow, 44 of rain and melt
December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 127 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in West Chatham averaged 2.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.5°).
A bigger shift than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
About 221 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 5 and the first by November 15.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
West Chatham and its neighbors
Chatham has the coldest January nights next door (25°) and Chatham the hottest July afternoons (77°). Tap a town to see its climate.
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.
How West Chatham compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Massachusetts.
West Chatham 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 | 39° | 25° | 4.0" | 7.5" | 12 | 7 | 23° – 38° |
| February | 40° | 26° | 3.3" | 9.9" | 11 | 8 | 24° – 39° |
| March | 44° | 31° | 4.2" | 3.8" | 12 | 4 | 33° – 43° |
| April | 52° | 39° | 4.1" | 0.5" | 12 | 0 | 42° – 49° |
| May | 61° | 48° | 3.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 50° – 58° |
| June | 70° | 56° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| July | 77° | 63° | 2.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 77° | 63° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| September | 71° | 57° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 61° – 68° |
| October | 61° | 48° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| November | 52° | 39° | 4.0" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 42° – 49° |
| December | 44° | 31° | 4.7" | 2.6" | 13 | 2 | 32° – 47° |
| Year | 57° | 44° | 44.3" | 24.5" | 127 | 21 |
Heating and cooling a home in West Chatham
94% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 32° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about West Chatham’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Chatham?
January, with a typical high of 39° and a low of 25°.
What is the hottest month in West Chatham?
July, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 63°.
How much snow does West Chatham get?
About 25 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in West Chatham?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 15, and the last spring frost by April 5.
What is the rainiest month in West Chatham?
December, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 44 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in West Chatham.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Chatham itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Chatham, MA (2 mi) away. 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.