Bethlehem, NH climate
Bethlehem has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 101 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade2° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 65°, and a typical Sep 30 in Bethlehem peaks around 63°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Bethlehem feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Bethlehem 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 | 27° | 6° | 2.9" | 21.3" | 16 | 29 | 5° – 24° |
| February | 30° | 7° | 2.3" | 21.5" | 12 | 27 | 6° – 26° |
| March | 39° | 16° | 2.9" | 16.7" | 14 | 26 | 18° – 37° |
| April | 52° | 28° | 3.4" | 5.4" | 13 | 6 | 35° – 45° |
| May | 66° | 39° | 4.1" | 0.4" | 16 | 0 | 46° – 58° |
| June | 74° | 49° | 4.8" | 0 | 17 | 0 | 59° – 65° |
| July | 79° | 53° | 4.7" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| August | 77° | 51° | 4.2" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 62° – 68° |
| September | 69° | 44° | 3.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| October | 56° | 34° | 4.5" | 1.6" | 14 | 1 | 40° – 52° |
| November | 43° | 25° | 3.3" | 7.1" | 14 | 7 | 29° – 39° |
| December | 32° | 14° | 3.6" | 26.9" | 16 | 23 | 16° – 34° |
| Year | 54° | 30° | 44.5" | 100.9" | 169 | 120 |
“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 Bethlehem
Bethlehem gets 45 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 169 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 120 days of the year.
About 116 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 24 and the first one by September 18. That leaves about 116 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Bethlehem
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Bethlehem, 97% of that work is heating and 3% 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.
Bethlehem and its neighbors
Bethlehem borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.5°. Franconia has the coldest January nights (4°) and Littleton the hottest July afternoons (80°). Bethlehem’s January low is 6° and its July high 79°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.9°). The shift is larger than in 82% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Bethlehem’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 6° to 26°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Bethlehem’s climate
What is the coldest month in Bethlehem?
January, with a typical high of 27° and a low of 6°.
What is the hottest month in Bethlehem?
July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 53°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Bethlehem get?
About 101 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Bethlehem?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 18, and the last spring frost by May 24.
What is the rainiest month in Bethlehem?
June, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 45 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Bethlehem itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Bethlehem 2, NH (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.