Smith Island, MD climate
Smith Island has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 29°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Smith Island feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Smith Island 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 | 46° | 29° | 3.3" | 32° – 43° |
| February | 48° | 30° | 2.9" | 28° – 46° |
| March | 56° | 37° | 4.0" | 42° – 55° |
| April | 66° | 47° | 3.4" | 52° – 62° |
| May | 75° | 56° | 3.7" | 60° – 71° |
| June | 83° | 66° | 4.0" | 69° – 79° |
| July | 88° | 71° | 4.7" | 75° – 83° |
| August | 86° | 69° | 4.6" | 74° – 81° |
| September | 80° | 63° | 4.1" | 68° – 77° |
| October | 70° | 52° | 4.1" | 57° – 67° |
| November | 59° | 41° | 3.1" | 44° – 54° |
| December | 50° | 33° | 3.6" | 33° – 52° |
| Year | 67° | 49° | 45.5" |
“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 Smith Island
Smith Island gets 45 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest.
About 229 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 30 and the first one by November 14. That leaves about 229 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 86% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Smith Island
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Smith Island, 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 Smith Island 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 Smith Island averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 78% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Smith Island’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 33° to 52°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Smith Island’s climate
What is the coldest month in Smith Island?
January, with a typical high of 46° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Smith Island?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 71°. About 29 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Smith Island?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 14, and the last spring frost by March 30.
What is the rainiest month in Smith Island?
July, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 45 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Smith Island itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at St Inigoes Webster Nolf, MD (25 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.