South Eliot has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 56 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in South Eliot at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about South Eliot’s climate
Read from where South Eliot sits among Maine’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in South Eliot feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 157 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 4 and the first by October 8.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
56 inches of snow, 47 of rain and melt
October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 119 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with South Eliot’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
157 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 4 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 8.
About 56" a winter over 15 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 66 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 93% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 11 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 81°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 2.4 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 →South Eliot and its neighbors
Eliot has the coldest January nights next door (15°) and Eliot the hottest July afternoons (81°). 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.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in South Eliot averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°).
A bigger shift than in 84% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How South Eliot compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Maine.
South Eliot 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 | 33° | 16° | 3.4" | 15.9" | 10 | 21 | 16° – 32° |
| February | 36° | 17° | 3.4" | 16.2" | 8 | 20 | 13° – 32° |
| March | 43° | 25° | 4.3" | 10.5" | 10 | 14 | 29° – 44° |
| April | 55° | 35° | 4.2" | 1.2" | 10 | 2 | 41° – 49° |
| May | 66° | 45° | 3.8" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| June | 75° | 54° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 62° – 68° |
| July | 81° | 61° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 79° | 59° | 3.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 72° |
| September | 72° | 52° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 66° |
| October | 60° | 41° | 4.8" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 57° |
| November | 49° | 31° | 4.0" | 0.9" | 10 | 1 | 35° – 45° |
| December | 39° | 22° | 4.4" | 11.0" | 11 | 9 | 24° – 39° |
| Year | 57° | 38° | 47.4" | 55.8" | 119 | 66 |
Heating and cooling a home in South Eliot
93% 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. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 13° to 32°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about South Eliot’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Eliot?
January, with a typical high of 33° and a low of 16°.
What is the hottest month in South Eliot?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 61°. About 11 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Eliot get?
About 56 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in South Eliot?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 8, and the last spring frost by May 4.
What is the rainiest month in South Eliot?
October, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 47 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in South Eliot.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Eliot itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Eliot, ME (2 mi, snow) and Greenland, NH (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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.