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Climate in Oronoco · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Oronoco has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Oronoco at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan24°6° 9" snow
Feb28°9° 10" snow
Mar41°22° 9" snow
Apr56°34°
May69°46° Nice outLast frost ~12
Jun78°56° Nice out2 days 90°+
Jul82°60° Nice out3 days 90°+
Aug79°57° Nice out
Sep73°50° Nice outFirst frost ~28
Oct now59°37°
Nov42°25°
Dec29°13° 13" snow

What stands out about Oronoco’s climate

Read from where Oronoco sits among Minnesota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Rain & snow

44 inches of snow, 35 of rain and melt

June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 111 days a year.

35"
Rain + melted snow a year
270th wettest of 2,691 Minnesota towns
Less than 65% of U.S. towns
44"
Snow in a normal winter
915th least snowy of 2,448 Minnesota towns
More than 76% of U.S. towns
88 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
454th least snowy of 1,625 Minnesota towns
More than 86% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

5.4"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

13"
JFMAMJJASOND
A normal year

What a year in Oronoco feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
27° / 9°
12 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
55° / 34°
Last frost around May 12
Summer
80° / 58°
8 days reach 90°
Fall
58° / 37°
First frost around Sep 28
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost & heat

About 139 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 12 and the first by September 28.

176
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
35
nights below 0° in a normal year
8
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

31
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

3.4
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Oronoco’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

139 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 12 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 28.

Snow season

About 44" a winter over 12 days with an inch or more, most in December. Snow covers the ground about 88 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 95% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 8 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 0.9 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Oronoco and its neighbors

Pine Island has the coldest January nights next door (6°) and Oronoco the hottest July afternoons (82°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Pine Island: January low 6°, July high 81°Rochester: January low 6°, July high 82°Kalmar: January low 6°, July high 81°Haverhill: January low 6°, July high 81°Milton: January low 6°, July high 81°Roscoe: January low 6°, July high 81°Elgin: January low 6°, July high 81°Oronoco: January low 6°, July high 82°Pine Island: January low 6°, July high 81°Cascade: January low 6°, July high 82°New Haven: January low 6°, July high 81°Farmington: January low 6°, July high 81°Oronoco: January low 6°, July high 82° OronocoOronocoPine IslandCascadeNew HavenFarmington
ColderMilder6° to 6°
Oronoco5.5°
Pine Island5.5° same
Cascade5.5° same
Oronoco5.6° +0.1°
New Haven5.6° +0.1°
Farmington5.7° +0.2°

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.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Oronoco averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.2°).

+1.3°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 53% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.6°now 18°, was 16°
🌷 Spring+1.0°now 45°, was 44°
☀️ Summer+0.3°now 69°, was 69°
🍂 Fall+1.1°now 47°, was 46°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Oronoco compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Minnesota.

Summer heat82° July high
Cooler than 76% of U.S. towns858th hottest of 2,691 Minnesota towns
Winter cold6° January low
Colder than 89% of U.S. towns874th mildest of 2,691 Minnesota towns
Precipitation35" a year
Drier than 65% of U.S. towns270th wettest of 2,691 Minnesota towns
Snow44" a winter
Snowier than 76% of U.S. towns915th least snowy of 2,448 Minnesota towns
Growing season139 frost-free days
Shorter than 90% of U.S. towns608th shortest of 2,672 Minnesota towns
Month by month

Oronoco weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January24°6°1.0" 8.8"7254° – 28°
February28°9°1.0" 9.6"6255° – 31°
March41°22°1.9" 8.8"81623° – 48°
April56°34°3.4" 1.2"10134° – 52°
May69°46°4.4" 0.6"13052° – 65°
June78°56°5.4" 014063° – 73°
July82°60°4.3" 011064° – 76°
August79°57°4.5" 011064° – 74°
September73°50°3.7" 010054° – 67°
October59°37°2.5" 0.1"9042° – 53°
November42°25°1.8" 2.8"6224° – 46°
December29°13°1.2" 12.5"7197° – 31°
Year55°35°35.1"44.4"11188
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Oronoco

95% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

95%heating
8,328 heating degree daysMore heating than 89% of U.S. towns
442 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 81% of U.S. towns

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.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 5° to 31°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Oronoco’s climate

What is the coldest month in Oronoco?

January, with a typical high of 24° and a low of 6°.

What is the hottest month in Oronoco?

July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 60°. About 8 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Oronoco get?

About 44 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.

When is the first frost in Oronoco?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 28, and the last spring frost by May 12.

What is the rainiest month in Oronoco?

June, with 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 35 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Oronoco.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Oronoco winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Oronoco itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Byron 4north, MN (9 mi) away. 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.

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