Gaston, NC climate
Gaston has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Gaston feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Gaston 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 | 51° | 30° | 3.7" | 2.8" | 10 | 2 | 35° – 46° |
| February | 54° | 32° | 2.9" | 0.8" | 8 | 2 | 33° – 51° |
| March | 62° | 37° | 4.2" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 44° – 58° |
| April | 71° | 46° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| May | 79° | 56° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 62° – 74° |
| June | 86° | 65° | 4.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 5.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 67° | 4.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 74° – 80° |
| September | 82° | 61° | 5.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 68° – 78° |
| October | 72° | 48° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 57° – 67° |
| November | 62° | 39° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| December | 54° | 33° | 3.5" | 1.1" | 9 | 2 | 34° – 54° |
| Year | 71° | 48° | 48.5" | 5.0" | 104 | 6 |
“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 Gaston
Gaston gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 104 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 6 days of the year.
About 222 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 31 and the first one by November 9. That leaves about 222 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 83% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Gaston
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Gaston, 69% of that work is heating and 31% 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 Gaston 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 Gaston averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.6°). The shift is larger than in 57% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Gaston’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 34° to 54°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Gaston’s climate
What is the coldest month in Gaston?
January, with a typical high of 51° and a low of 30°.
What is the hottest month in Gaston?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 46 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Gaston get?
About 5 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Gaston?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 9, and the last spring frost by March 31.
What is the rainiest month in Gaston?
July, with 5.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Gaston itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Jackson, NC (14 mi, snow) and Roanoke Rapids, NC (2 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.