Rutherfordton, NC climate
Rutherfordton 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 Rutherfordton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rutherfordton 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 | 52° | 30° | 4.3" | 2.4" | 12 | 2 | 34° – 47° |
| February | 56° | 33° | 3.7" | 0.8" | 10 | 0 | 36° – 52° |
| March | 63° | 39° | 4.5" | 0.8" | 12 | 1 | 44° – 61° |
| April | 73° | 46° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 55° – 64° |
| May | 80° | 55° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| June | 86° | 64° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 90° | 67° | 4.7" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 66° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| September | 82° | 60° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| October | 73° | 49° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57° – 65° |
| November | 62° | 38° | 3.8" | 0.1" | 9 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| December | 54° | 32° | 4.8" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 34° – 53° |
| Year | 72° | 48° | 52.0" | 4.5" | 125 | 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 Rutherfordton
Rutherfordton gets 52 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 125 days a year.
About 198 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 27. That leaves about 198 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 71% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Rutherfordton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Rutherfordton, 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.
Rutherfordton and its neighbors
Rutherfordton borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.2°. Ruth has both the coldest January nights (30°) and the hottest July afternoons (90°). Rutherfordton’s January low is 30° and its July high 90°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Rutherfordton 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 Rutherfordton averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.3°). The shift is smaller than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Rutherfordton’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 53°. October is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Rutherfordton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Rutherfordton?
January, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 30°.
What is the hottest month in Rutherfordton?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 67°. About 45 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Rutherfordton get?
About 5 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Rutherfordton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 27, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Rutherfordton?
December, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 52 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Rutherfordton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Forest City 6 Sw, NC (7 mi, snow) and Forest City 8 W, NC (4 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.