Lake Ozark, MO climate
Lake Ozark has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lake Ozark feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lake Ozark 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43° | 23° | 2.0" | 1.7" | 7 | 27° – 44° |
| February | 48° | 27° | 2.1" | 0.6" | 6 | 30° – 47° |
| March | 58° | 35° | 3.0" | 0.3" | 10 | 40° – 60° |
| April | 69° | 45° | 4.7" | 0 | 10 | 50° – 62° |
| May | 77° | 55° | 5.3" | 0 | 12 | 61° – 73° |
| June | 85° | 64° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 70° – 79° |
| July | 89° | 68° | 4.0" | 0 | 8 | 73° – 85° |
| August | 89° | 66° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 71° – 83° |
| September | 81° | 58° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 64° – 78° |
| October | 70° | 46° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 52° – 65° |
| November | 57° | 36° | 3.2" | 0 | 7 | 39° – 55° |
| December | 46° | 27° | 2.3" | 1.7" | 7 | 22° – 45° |
| Year | 68° | 46° | 42.2" | 4.3" | 99 |
“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 Lake Ozark
Lake Ozark gets 42 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 99 days a year.
About 216 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 31 and the first one by November 3. That leaves about 216 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lake Ozark
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lake Ozark, 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 Lake Ozark 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 Lake Ozark averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 50% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lake Ozark’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 22° to 45°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Lake Ozark’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lake Ozark?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Lake Ozark?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 68°. About 35 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lake Ozark get?
About 4 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Lake Ozark?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 3, and the last spring frost by March 31.
What is the rainiest month in Lake Ozark?
May, with 5.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 42 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lake Ozark itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lakeside, MO (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.