Poteau, OK climate
Poteau has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 29°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Poteau feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Poteau 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 | 52° | 29° | 3.0" | 0.4" | 6 | 0 | 36° – 48° |
| February | 57° | 33° | 2.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 38° – 54° |
| March | 65° | 41° | 4.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 46° – 62° |
| April | 74° | 49° | 5.1" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 56° – 67° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 6.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| June | 88° | 67° | 4.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 73° – 83° |
| July | 93° | 70° | 3.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 76° – 89° |
| August | 93° | 69° | 3.6" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 74° – 87° |
| September | 86° | 61° | 4.6" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 70° – 81° |
| October | 75° | 50° | 4.5" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| November | 63° | 40° | 4.2" | 0.1" | 7 | 0 | 44° – 57° |
| December | 54° | 32° | 3.9" | 0.1" | 6 | 0 | 31° – 49° |
| Year | 73° | 50° | 50.3" | 0.6" | 80 | 0 |
“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 Poteau
Poteau gets 50 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 80 days a year.
About 210 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 6 and the first one by November 2. That leaves about 210 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 78% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Poteau
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Poteau, 63% of that work is heating and 37% is cooling.
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.
How Poteau 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 Poteau averaged 0.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.4°). The shift is smaller than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Poteau’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 31° to 49°. May is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Poteau’s climate
What is the coldest month in Poteau?
January, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Poteau?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 70°. About 71 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Poteau get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.6 inches.
When is the first frost in Poteau?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 2, and the last spring frost by April 6.
What is the rainiest month in Poteau?
May, with 6.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 50 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Poteau itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Spiro, OK (12 mi, snow) and Wister 3s, OK (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.