Rutherford College, NC climate
Rutherford College has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 29°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Rutherford College feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rutherford College 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 | 50° | 29° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 33° – 45° |
| February | 54° | 31° | 3.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 34° – 50° |
| March | 62° | 38° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 43° – 59° |
| April | 71° | 45° | 4.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| May | 79° | 54° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| June | 85° | 62° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 88° | 66° | 4.2" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 74° – 81° |
| August | 87° | 65° | 4.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 72° – 82° |
| September | 81° | 59° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 67° – 75° |
| October | 72° | 47° | 3.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 56° – 64° |
| November | 61° | 36° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 44° – 54° |
| December | 53° | 31° | 4.0" | 0.3" | 9 | 0 | 33° – 51° |
| Year | 70° | 47° | 47.5" | 0.3" | 117 | 0 |
“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 Rutherford College
Rutherford College gets 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 117 days a year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 7 and the first one by October 28. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Rutherford College
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Rutherford College, 75% of that work is heating and 25% 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.
Rutherford College and its neighbors
Rutherford College borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.1°. Valdese has both the coldest January nights (29°) and the hottest July afternoons (89°). Rutherford College’s January low is 29° and its July high 88°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Rutherford College 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 Rutherford College averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.9°). The shift is smaller than in 78% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Rutherford College’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 33° to 51°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Rutherford College’s climate
What is the coldest month in Rutherford College?
January, with a typical high of 50° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Rutherford College?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 66°. About 35 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Rutherford College get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.3 inches.
When is the first frost in Rutherford College?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 28, and the last spring frost by April 7.
What is the rainiest month in Rutherford College?
August, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Rutherford College itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Rhodhiss Hydro Plt, NC (5 mi, snow) and Morganton, NC (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.