West Ocean City has mild winters and warm summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in West Ocean City at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about West Ocean City’s climate
Read from where West Ocean City sits among Maryland’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in West Ocean City feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in West Ocean City averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°).
A bigger shift than in 90% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
10 inches of snow, 46 of rain and melt
August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 113 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 209 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first by November 2.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with West Ocean City’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
209 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 7 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 2.
About 10" a winter over 4 days with an inch or more, most in February.
Months averaging under 55° run from November through April. Heating is 80% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 13 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 86°.
The nicest months are April, May, June, September and October. 0.8 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 →How West Ocean City compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Maryland.
West Ocean City 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° | 30° | 3.5" | 2.8" | 10 | 2 | 32° – 44° |
| February | 47° | 31° | 3.1" | 3.6" | 9 | 2 | 28° – 45° |
| March | 53° | 37° | 4.2" | 1.2" | 11 | 0 | 40° – 53° |
| April | 63° | 45° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 51° – 59° |
| May | 72° | 55° | 3.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| June | 81° | 64° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 67° – 77° |
| July | 86° | 69° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| August | 85° | 68° | 4.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 73° – 80° |
| September | 79° | 63° | 4.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 69° | 52° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 67° |
| November | 58° | 41° | 3.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43° – 54° |
| December | 50° | 34° | 3.9" | 2.5" | 10 | 2 | 33° – 53° |
| Year | 66° | 49° | 45.8" | 10.2" | 113 | 6 |
Heating and cooling a home in West Ocean City
80% of the work is heating.
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 33° to 53°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about West Ocean City’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Ocean City?
January, with a typical high of 46° and a low of 30°.
What is the hottest month in West Ocean City?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 69°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Ocean City get?
About 10 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in West Ocean City?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 2, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in West Ocean City?
August, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 46 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in West Ocean City.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Ocean City itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Snow Hill 4 N, MD (16 mi, snow) and Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD (3 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.