McDonough, NY climate
McDonough has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 48 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McDonough feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McDonough 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 13° | 3.2" | 12.8" | 15 | 12° – 30° |
| February | 32° | 15° | 2.7" | 12.6" | 12 | 10° – 31° |
| March | 41° | 22° | 3.5" | 8.6" | 13 | 23° – 44° |
| April | 54° | 32° | 3.8" | 1.1" | 14 | 37° – 49° |
| May | 66° | 44° | 3.9" | 0 | 15 | 50° – 60° |
| June | 75° | 53° | 4.9" | 0 | 13 | 60° – 69° |
| July | 79° | 57° | 4.6" | 0 | 12 | 64° – 72° |
| August | 77° | 56° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 63° – 70° |
| September | 70° | 49° | 4.4" | 0 | 11 | 56° – 64° |
| October | 58° | 38° | 4.4" | 0.2" | 14 | 43° – 55° |
| November | 45° | 30° | 3.5" | 2.3" | 13 | 32° – 43° |
| December | 35° | 21° | 3.7" | 10.0" | 15 | 19° – 39° |
| Year | 55° | 36° | 47.0" | 47.6" | 158 |
“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 McDonough
McDonough gets 47 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 158 days a year.
About 142 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 13 and the first one by October 4. That leaves about 142 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 88% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McDonough
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McDonough, 95% of that work is heating and 5% 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.
McDonough and its neighbors
McDonough borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.9°. Pharsalia has the coldest January nights (12°) and Smithville the hottest July afternoons (80°). McDonough’s January low is 13° and its July high 79°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How McDonough 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 McDonough averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 52% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McDonough’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 10° to 31°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about McDonough’s climate
What is the coldest month in McDonough?
January, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 13°.
What is the hottest month in McDonough?
July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 57°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McDonough get?
About 48 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in McDonough?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 4, and the last spring frost by May 13.
What is the rainiest month in McDonough?
June, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 47 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McDonough itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Greene, NY (12 mi, snow) and Norwich, NY (10 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.