West Jefferson, NC climate
West Jefferson has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 14 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Jefferson feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Jefferson 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° | 23° | 4.5" | 4.3" | 7 | 3 | 25° – 39° |
| February | 45° | 26° | 3.7" | 3.3" | 7 | 3 | 26° – 45° |
| March | 52° | 32° | 4.8" | 2.9" | 8 | 1 | 35° – 50° |
| April | 62° | 39° | 5.4" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 46° – 54° |
| May | 70° | 46° | 5.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 52° – 63° |
| June | 76° | 55° | 5.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| July | 79° | 58° | 5.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| August | 78° | 57° | 5.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 64° – 72° |
| September | 73° | 51° | 5.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| October | 63° | 41° | 4.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 49° – 56° |
| November | 53° | 31° | 4.4" | 0.2" | 6 | 0 | 37° – 48° |
| December | 45° | 26° | 4.4" | 3.7" | 8 | 2 | 26° – 47° |
| Year | 62° | 40° | 58.5" | 14.4" | 96 | 9 |
“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 West Jefferson
West Jefferson gets 58 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 96 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 9 days of the year.
About 154 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 7 and the first one by October 8. That leaves about 154 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 77% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in West Jefferson
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Jefferson, 93% of that work is heating and 7% 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 West Jefferson 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 West Jefferson averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.0°). The shift is smaller than in 81% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Jefferson’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 26° to 47°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about West Jefferson’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Jefferson?
January, with a typical high of 42° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in West Jefferson?
July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 58°. About 2 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Jefferson get?
About 14 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in West Jefferson?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 8, and the last spring frost by May 7.
What is the rainiest month in West Jefferson?
September, with 5.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 58 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Jefferson itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Jefferson 2 E, NC (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.