Utica, NY climate
Utica has cold winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 13°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Utica feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Utica weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 13° | 2.7" | 10° – 31° |
| February | 33° | 14° | 2.3" | 10° – 30° |
| March | 42° | 23° | 3.0" | 24° – 45° |
| April | 56° | 33° | 3.6" | 38° – 51° |
| May | 70° | 45° | 3.9" | 52° – 63° |
| June | 78° | 54° | 4.4" | 63° – 72° |
| July | 82° | 59° | 4.3" | 66° – 75° |
| August | 81° | 58° | 4.0" | 65° – 73° |
| September | 73° | 51° | 3.8" | 58° – 67° |
| October | 60° | 40° | 4.2" | 44° – 56° |
| November | 47° | 31° | 3.4" | 33° – 45° |
| December | 36° | 21° | 3.2" | 21° – 40° |
| Year | 57° | 37° | 42.7" |
“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 Utica
Utica gets 43 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest.
About 164 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 1 and the first one by October 13. That leaves about 164 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 67% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Utica
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Utica, 94% of that work is heating and 6% 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.
Utica and its neighbors
Utica borders 9 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.0°. Deerfield has the coldest January nights (11°) and Yorkville the hottest July afternoons (82°). Utica’s January low is 13° and its July high 82°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Utica 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 Utica averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.2°). The shift is larger than in 55% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Utica’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 30°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Utica’s climate
What is the coldest month in Utica?
January, with a typical high of 31° and a low of 13°.
What is the hottest month in Utica?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 59°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Utica?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 13, and the last spring frost by May 1.
What is the rainiest month in Utica?
June, with 4.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 43 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Utica itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY (9 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.