West Orange, NJ climate
West Orange has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 24 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Orange feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Orange 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 | 39° | 22° | 3.6" | 5.8" | 10 | 8 | 22° – 38° |
| February | 42° | 24° | 2.9" | 8.4" | 8 | 8 | 21° – 39° |
| March | 50° | 31° | 4.2" | 4.6" | 10 | 5 | 35° – 50° |
| April | 62° | 40° | 4.0" | 0.4" | 12 | 0 | 47° – 56° |
| May | 72° | 50° | 4.1" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| June | 81° | 60° | 4.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 67° – 73° |
| July | 86° | 65° | 4.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| August | 84° | 63° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| September | 77° | 56° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 64° – 71° |
| October | 65° | 45° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| November | 54° | 36° | 3.7" | 0.7" | 9 | 0 | 40° – 50° |
| December | 44° | 28° | 4.5" | 4.1" | 10 | 4 | 29° – 47° |
| Year | 63° | 43° | 49.5" | 24.0" | 123 | 24 |
“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 Orange
West Orange gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 123 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 24 days of the year.
About 189 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 18 and the first one by October 27. That leaves about 189 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 63% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in West Orange
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Orange, 84% of that work is heating and 16% 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 Orange and its neighbors
West Orange borders 7 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.4°. Essex Fells has the coldest January nights (22°) and South Orange Village the hottest July afternoons (87°). West Orange’s January low is 22° and its July high 86°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How West Orange 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 Orange averaged 2.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.6°). The shift is larger than in 97% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Orange’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 29° to 47°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about West Orange’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Orange?
January, with a typical high of 39° and a low of 22°.
What is the hottest month in West Orange?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 65°. About 29 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Orange get?
About 24 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in West Orange?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 27, and the last spring frost by April 18.
What is the rainiest month in West Orange?
July, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Orange itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Canoe Brook, NJ (5 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.