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Climate in Union · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Union has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain

A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 62 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Union at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan30°12° 19" snow
Feb34°13° 17" snow
Mar42°21° 9" snow
Apr56°32°
May67°43° Nice outLast frost ~16
Jun76°52° Nice out2 days 90°+
Jul81°58° Nice out4 days 90°+
Aug79°56° Nice out2 days 90°+
Sep71°48° Nice outFirst frost ~30
Oct now59°38° Wettest
Nov47°28°
Dec36°19° 13" snow

What stands out about Union’s climate

Read from where Union sits among New Hampshire’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Union averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.2°).

+1.5°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 69% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.3°now 24°, was 22°
🌷 Spring+1.0°now 44°, was 43°
☀️ Summer+1.3°now 67°, was 66°
🍂 Fall+1.3°now 48°, was 47°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
A normal year

What a year in Union feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
33° / 15°
19 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
55° / 32°
Last frost around May 16
Summer
79° / 55°
10 days reach 90°
Fall
59° / 38°
First frost around Sep 30
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

62 inches of snow, 48 of rain and melt

October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 132 days a year.

48"
Rain + melted snow a year
90th wettest of 321 New Hampshire towns
More than 82% of U.S. towns
62"
Snow in a normal winter
117th least snowy of 321 New Hampshire towns
More than 89% of U.S. towns
91 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
117th least snowy of 284 New Hampshire towns
More than 87% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

5.0"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

19"
JFMAMJJASOND
Frost & heat

About 136 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 16 and the first by September 30.

156
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
11
nights below 0° in a normal year
10
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

30
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

3.7
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Union’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

136 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 16 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 30.

Snow season

About 62" a winter over 19 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 91 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 95% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 10 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 81°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Union and its neighbors

Wakefield has the coldest January nights next door (11°) and Middleton the hottest July afternoons (81°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Brookfield: January low 12°, July high 80°Milton: January low 12°, July high 81°Acton: January low 12°, July high 80°Newfield: January low 11°, July high 81°Effingham: January low 11°, July high 81°Ossipee: January low 11°, July high 81°Middleton: January low 12°, July high 81°Wakefield: January low 11°, July high 80°Union: January low 12°, July high 81° UnionMiddletonWakefield
ColderMilder11° to 12°
Wakefield11.1° −0.8°
Union11.9°
Middleton11.9° same

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Compared with other towns

How Union compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in New Hampshire.

Summer heat81° July high
Cooler than 83% of U.S. towns158th hottest of 321 New Hampshire towns
Winter cold12° January low
Colder than 78% of U.S. towns146th mildest of 321 New Hampshire towns
Precipitation48" a year
Wetter than 82% of U.S. towns90th wettest of 321 New Hampshire towns
Snow62" a winter
Snowier than 89% of U.S. towns117th least snowy of 321 New Hampshire towns
Growing season136 frost-free days
Shorter than 92% of U.S. towns86th shortest of 321 New Hampshire towns
Month by month

Union weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January30°12°3.4" 18.8"122712° – 29°
February34°13°3.2" 16.9"9259° – 30°
March42°21°4.0" 9.4"111924° – 40°
April56°32°4.2" 1.6"11239° – 48°
May67°43°3.7" 012050° – 60°
June76°52°4.4" 013061° – 68°
July81°58°4.1" 011065° – 72°
August79°56°3.8" 010065° – 70°
September71°48°3.9" 010056° – 63°
October59°38°5.0" 0.3"11045° – 55°
November47°28°4.1" 2.1"11232° – 43°
December36°19°4.4" 12.8"121521° – 35°
Year56°35°48.1"61.9"13291
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Union

95% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

95%heating
7,431 heating degree daysMore heating than 79% of U.S. towns
351 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 88% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 9° to 30°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Union’s climate

What is the coldest month in Union?

January, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 12°.

What is the hottest month in Union?

July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 58°. About 10 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Union get?

About 62 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Union?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 30, and the last spring frost by May 16.

What is the rainiest month in Union?

October, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Union.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Union winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Union itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lakeport 2, NH (22 mi, snow) and Sanford 2 Nnw, ME (12 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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.

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