McCook, NE climate
McCook has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 20 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McCook feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McCook 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° | 15° | 0.3" | 3.1" | 2 | 9 | 19° – 39° |
| February | 45° | 18° | 0.5" | 5.8" | 3 | 8 | 21° – 40° |
| March | 57° | 27° | 1.1" | 2.7" | 4 | 2 | 34° – 52° |
| April | 65° | 36° | 2.1" | 1.3" | 6 | 1 | 45° – 56° |
| May | 75° | 46° | 3.1" | 0.1" | 7 | 0 | 53° – 65° |
| June | 86° | 57° | 3.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 67° – 77° |
| July | 92° | 63° | 3.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 71° – 83° |
| August | 89° | 61° | 2.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 68° – 79° |
| September | 82° | 51° | 1.6" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59° – 73° |
| October | 68° | 37° | 1.6" | 1.2" | 4 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| November | 54° | 25° | 0.8" | 2.4" | 2 | 2 | 30° – 45° |
| December | 43° | 17° | 0.5" | 3.8" | 2 | 7 | 21° – 35° |
| Year | 66° | 38° | 21.1" | 20.4" | 58 | 29 |
“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 McCook
McCook gets 21 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 58 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 29 days of the year.
About 159 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 2 and the first one by October 9. That leaves about 159 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 72% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McCook
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McCook, 86% of that work is heating and 14% 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 McCook 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 McCook averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.2°). The shift is larger than in 51% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McCook’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 19° to 39°. April is the most reliable, staying within 11°.
Common questions about McCook’s climate
What is the coldest month in McCook?
January, with a typical high of 42° and a low of 15°.
What is the hottest month in McCook?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 63°. About 51 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McCook get?
About 20 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in McCook?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 9, and the last spring frost by May 2.
What is the rainiest month in McCook?
July, with 3.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 21 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McCook itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mc Cook #2, NE (1 mi, snow) and Mc Cook, NE (2 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.