Fairplay, MD climate
Fairplay has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 23°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Fairplay feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Fairplay weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 23° | 2.8" | 23° – 40° |
| February | 45° | 25° | 2.3" | 25° – 43° |
| March | 53° | 32° | 3.4" | 37° – 52° |
| April | 66° | 41° | 3.4" | 50° – 59° |
| May | 75° | 51° | 4.1" | 58° – 69° |
| June | 83° | 60° | 3.6" | 67° – 74° |
| July | 88° | 64° | 3.8" | 71° – 79° |
| August | 86° | 63° | 3.3" | 69° – 77° |
| September | 78° | 55° | 4.3" | 64° – 71° |
| October | 67° | 44° | 3.1" | 52° – 62° |
| November | 55° | 34° | 2.9" | 38° – 50° |
| December | 45° | 28° | 3.3" | 27° – 46° |
| Year | 65° | 43° | 40.3" |
“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 Fairplay
Fairplay gets 40 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest.
About 199 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 28. That leaves about 199 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 72% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Fairplay
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Fairplay, 82% of that work is heating and 18% 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.
How Fairplay 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 Fairplay averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°). The shift is larger than in 76% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Fairplay’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 27° to 46°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Fairplay’s climate
What is the coldest month in Fairplay?
January, with a typical high of 41° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Fairplay?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 64°. About 32 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Fairplay?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 28, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Fairplay?
September, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 40 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Fairplay itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Hagerstown 1 E, MD (8 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.