South West, MO climate
South West has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South West feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South West 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 | 44° | 24° | 1.7" | 3.4" | 7 | 2 | 28° – 44° |
| February | 49° | 28° | 2.0" | 1.0" | 7 | 1 | 31° – 48° |
| March | 59° | 37° | 3.1" | 1.6" | 10 | 0 | 41° – 60° |
| April | 68° | 46° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 50° – 64° |
| May | 76° | 56° | 6.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 62° – 73° |
| June | 85° | 65° | 5.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 75° – 86° |
| August | 89° | 68° | 3.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 72° – 84° |
| September | 82° | 59° | 4.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 66° – 77° |
| October | 70° | 47° | 3.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| November | 57° | 37° | 3.1" | 0.6" | 8 | 0 | 40° – 56° |
| December | 47° | 28° | 2.3" | 2.9" | 8 | 1 | 24° – 44° |
| Year | 68° | 47° | 45.5" | 9.5" | 104 | 3 |
“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 South West
South West gets 45 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 104 days a year.
About 198 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 6 and the first one by October 24. That leaves about 198 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 71% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South West
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South West, 76% of that work is heating and 24% 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.
South West and its neighbors
South West borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. Ozark has the coldest January nights (24°) and Baker the hottest July afternoons (90°). South West’s January low is 24° and its July high 90°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How South West 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 South West averaged 0.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+1.6°). The shift is smaller than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South West’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 24° to 44°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about South West’s climate
What is the coldest month in South West?
January, with a typical high of 44° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in South West?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South West get?
About 10 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in South West?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 24, and the last spring frost by April 6.
What is the rainiest month in South West?
May, with 6.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 45 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South West itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Pittsburg, KS (8 mi, snow) and Joplin 24 N, MO (1 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.