Sparta, NC climate
Sparta has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Sparta feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Sparta 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 | 42° | 24° | 4.3" | 5.3" | 6 | 3 | 26° – 40° |
| February | 46° | 26° | 3.3" | 4.2" | 7 | 4 | 28° – 45° |
| March | 53° | 32° | 4.5" | 3.1" | 8 | 1 | 36° – 51° |
| April | 63° | 40° | 5.1" | 1.0" | 8 | 0 | 47° – 55° |
| May | 71° | 48° | 5.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 54° – 64° |
| June | 77° | 56° | 5.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 63° – 70° |
| July | 80° | 60° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| August | 79° | 59° | 5.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| September | 73° | 53° | 5.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 59° – 69° |
| October | 64° | 42° | 4.2" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 50° – 57° |
| November | 54° | 33° | 4.2" | 0.3" | 7 | 0 | 38° – 49° |
| December | 46° | 27° | 4.2" | 4.7" | 7 | 2 | 27° – 48° |
| Year | 62° | 42° | 55.1" | 18.6" | 101 | 10 |
“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 Sparta
Sparta gets 55 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 101 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 10 days of the year.
About 180 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 22 and the first one by October 22. That leaves about 180 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 53% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Sparta
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Sparta, 89% of that work is heating and 11% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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 Sparta 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 Sparta averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 50% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Sparta’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 27° to 48°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Sparta’s climate
What is the coldest month in Sparta?
January, with a typical high of 42° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Sparta?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 60°. About 12 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Sparta get?
About 19 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Sparta?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 22, and the last spring frost by April 22.
What is the rainiest month in Sparta?
September, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 55 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Sparta itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Sparta 3.5 Ssw, NC (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.