West Ontario, ND climate
West Ontario has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to -1°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Ontario feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Ontario 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | -1° | 0.4" | 7.5" | 4 | -6° – 26° |
| February | 22° | 4° | 0.4" | 5.2" | 4 | -4° – 27° |
| March | 35° | 16° | 0.6" | 4.6" | 3 | 13° – 40° |
| April | 52° | 28° | 1.1" | 1.8" | 4 | 28° – 49° |
| May | 66° | 41° | 2.6" | 0.1" | 7 | 48° – 60° |
| June | 75° | 52° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 58° – 67° |
| July | 81° | 56° | 3.1" | 0 | 6 | 62° – 73° |
| August | 80° | 54° | 2.3" | 0 | 5 | 60° – 71° |
| September | 70° | 44° | 2.0" | 0 | 4 | 52° – 63° |
| October | 54° | 32° | 1.4" | 0.6" | 3 | 34° – 48° |
| November | 36° | 18° | 0.6" | 4.5" | 2 | 13° – 39° |
| December | 22° | 6° | 0.6" | 9.2" | 3 | 2° – 23° |
| Year | 51° | 29° | 18.5" | 33.5" | 52 |
“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 Ontario
West Ontario gets 19 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 52 days a year.
About 139 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 13 and the first one by September 28. That leaves about 139 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 90% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in West Ontario
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Ontario, 96% of that work is heating and 4% 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.
West Ontario and its neighbors
West Ontario borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. South Cottonwood has the coldest January nights (-1°) and Delger the hottest July afternoons (81°). West Ontario’s January low is -1° and its July high 81°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How West Ontario 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 Ontario averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.1°). The shift is larger than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Ontario’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from -6° to 26°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about West Ontario’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Ontario?
January, with a typical high of 18° and a low of -1°.
What is the hottest month in West Ontario?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 56°. About 9 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Ontario get?
About 34 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in West Ontario?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 28, and the last spring frost by May 13.
What is the rainiest month in West Ontario?
June, with 3.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 19 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Ontario itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Fessenden, ND (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.