Rochester, NY climate
Rochester has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 59 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Rochester feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rochester 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 | 34° | 17° | 3.5" | 14.6" | 11 | 21 | 16° – 33° |
| February | 38° | 19° | 2.9" | 14.6" | 9 | 21 | 15° – 35° |
| March | 47° | 26° | 3.7" | 12.4" | 11 | 17 | 30° – 48° |
| April | 60° | 36° | 3.8" | 1.8" | 11 | 2 | 43° – 53° |
| May | 71° | 47° | 3.9" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| June | 79° | 56° | 4.7" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| July | 84° | 61° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| August | 82° | 60° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 67° – 74° |
| September | 74° | 52° | 4.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| October | 63° | 41° | 4.8" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 47° – 58° |
| November | 50° | 32° | 3.7" | 2.8" | 10 | 3 | 36° – 46° |
| December | 39° | 24° | 4.2" | 12.9" | 11 | 14 | 24° – 42° |
| Year | 60° | 39° | 48.9" | 59.2" | 133 | 78 |
“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 Rochester
Rochester gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 133 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 78 days of the year.
About 188 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 21 and the first one by October 27. That leaves about 188 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 62% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Rochester
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Rochester, 89% of that work is heating and 11% 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.
Rochester and its neighbors
Rochester borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 4.4°. Denning has the coldest January nights (13°) and New Paltz the hottest July afternoons (85°). Rochester’s January low is 17° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Rochester 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 Rochester averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°). The shift is larger than in 92% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Rochester’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 15° to 35°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Rochester’s climate
What is the coldest month in Rochester?
January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in Rochester?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 61°. About 8 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Rochester get?
About 59 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Rochester?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 27, and the last spring frost by April 21.
What is the rainiest month in Rochester?
September, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Rochester itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mohonk Lake, NY (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.