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Climate in Clifton Park · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Clifton Park has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 59 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Clifton Park at a glance

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

Jan32°15° 16" snow
Feb35°16° 14" snow
Mar44°25° 12" snow
Apr58°35° Last frost ~27
May70°47° Nice out
Jun78°56° Nice out2 days 90°+
Jul83°61° Nice out5 days 90°+
Aug81°59° Nice out
Sep73°52° Nice out
Oct now61°41° First frost ~15
Nov48°31°
Dec37°22° 13" snow
A normal year

What a year in Clifton Park feels like

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

Winter
35° / 18°
15 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
57° / 36°
Last frost around Apr 27
Summer
81° / 59°
10 days reach 90°
Fall
61° / 41°
First frost around Oct 15
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

59 inches of snow, 43 of rain and melt

June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 139 days a year.

43"
Rain + melted snow a year
905th driest of 2,223 New York towns
More than 60% of U.S. towns
59"
Snow in a normal winter
1052nd least snowy of 2,158 New York towns
More than 88% of U.S. towns
57 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
390th least snowy of 1,653 New York towns
More than 70% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.5"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

16"
JFMAMJJASOND
Frost & heat

About 169 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 27 and the first by October 15.

136
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
7
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°

28
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

4.5
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Clifton Park’s climate

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

The garden window

169 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 27 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 15.

Snow season

About 59" a winter over 15 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 57 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 90% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 10 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 55 miles of trails are waiting.

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

Clifton Park and its neighbors

Ballston has the coldest January nights next door (14°) and Colonie the hottest July afternoons (83°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Stillwater: January low 14°, July high 82°Schaghticoke: January low 14°, July high 83°Mechanicville: January low 15°, July high 83°Waterford: January low 15°, July high 84°Schenectady: January low 14°, July high 83°Glenville: January low 14°, July high 82°Charlton: January low 13°, July high 82°Milton: January low 13°, July high 82°Saratoga Springs: January low 13°, July high 83°Saratoga: January low 13°, July high 83°Watervliet: January low 16°, July high 84°Cohoes: January low 16°, July high 84°Albany: January low 16°, July high 83°Guilderland: January low 15°, July high 83°Green Island: January low 16°, July high 84°Green Island: January low 16°, July high 84°Menands: January low 16°, July high 84°Troy: January low 16°, July high 84°Halfmoon: January low 15°, July high 83°Niskayuna: January low 15°, July high 83°Ballston: January low 14°, July high 82°Malta: January low 14°, July high 83°Colonie: January low 15°, July high 83°Round Lake: January low 14°, July high 83°Clifton Park: January low 15°, July high 83° Clifton ParkHalfmoonNiskayunaBallstonMaltaColonieRound Lake
ColderMilder13° to 16°
Ballston13.5° −1.0°
Malta13.6° −0.9°
Round Lake13.9° −0.6°
Clifton Park14.5°
Halfmoon14.6° +0.1°
Niskayuna14.6° +0.1°
Colonie15.3° +0.8°

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.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Clifton Park averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°).

+1.6°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 73% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.9°now 26°, was 23°
🌷 Spring+1.1°now 46°, was 45°
☀️ Summer+0.9°now 70°, was 69°
🍂 Fall+1.3°now 51°, was 50°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Clifton Park compares

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

Summer heat83° July high
Cooler than 69% of U.S. towns629th hottest of 2,223 New York towns
Winter cold15° January low
Colder than 71% of U.S. towns843rd coldest of 2,223 New York towns
Precipitation43" a year
Wetter than 60% of U.S. towns905th driest of 2,223 New York towns
Snow59" a winter
Snowier than 88% of U.S. towns1052nd least snowy of 2,158 New York towns
Growing season169 frost-free days
Shorter than 62% of U.S. towns807th longest of 2,222 New York towns
Month by month

Clifton Park 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
January32°15°2.8" 15.6"131812° – 31°
February35°16°2.5" 13.7"111611° – 32°
March44°25°3.0" 12.0"121027° – 45°
April58°35°3.4" 1.6"12140° – 52°
May70°47°3.6" 0.1"13053° – 64°
June78°56°4.5" 012064° – 72°
July83°61°4.3" 011067° – 76°
August81°59°4.0" 011067° – 74°
September73°52°3.9" 010059° – 67°
October61°41°4.0" 0.3"11046° – 57°
November48°31°3.1" 2.6"11235° – 45°
December37°22°3.4" 13.3"131022° – 41°
Year58°38°42.5"59.2"13957
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Clifton Park

90% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

90%heating
6,357 heating degree daysMore heating than 63% of U.S. towns
721 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 59% 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 11° to 32°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Clifton Park’s climate

What is the coldest month in Clifton Park?

January, with a typical high of 32° and a low of 15°.

What is the hottest month in Clifton Park?

July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 61°. About 10 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Clifton Park get?

About 59 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Clifton Park?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 15, and the last spring frost by April 27.

What is the rainiest month in Clifton Park?

June, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 43 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Clifton Park.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Clifton Park 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 Clifton Park itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Albany Airport, NY (8 mi) away. 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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