Salisbury, MD climate
Salisbury has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 8 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Salisbury feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Salisbury 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 | 46° | 27° | 3.5" | 2.5" | 11 | 2 | 31° – 43° |
| February | 49° | 28° | 3.0" | 3.4" | 10 | 1 | 28° – 46° |
| March | 57° | 35° | 4.1" | 1.0" | 12 | 1 | 41° – 54° |
| April | 67° | 44° | 3.5" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| May | 76° | 53° | 3.7" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 59° – 71° |
| June | 84° | 62° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 78° |
| July | 89° | 68° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| August | 87° | 66° | 5.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 79° |
| September | 80° | 59° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 67° – 75° |
| October | 70° | 48° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| November | 59° | 38° | 3.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| December | 50° | 31° | 3.7" | 0.9" | 11 | 1 | 31° – 52° |
| Year | 68° | 46° | 46.0" | 8.0" | 122 | 4 |
“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 Salisbury
Salisbury gets 46 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 122 days a year.
About 217 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 3 and the first one by November 7. That leaves about 217 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Salisbury
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Salisbury, 72% of that work is heating and 28% is cooling.
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 Salisbury 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 Salisbury averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.1°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Salisbury’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 31° to 52°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Salisbury’s climate
What is the coldest month in Salisbury?
January, with a typical high of 46° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Salisbury?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 68°. About 31 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Salisbury get?
About 8 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Salisbury?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 7, and the last spring frost by April 3.
What is the rainiest month in Salisbury?
August, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 46 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Salisbury itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Salisbury Wicomico Rgnl Airport, MD (5 mi, snow) and Salisbury, MD (1 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.