John Day, OR climate
John Day has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in John Day feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
John Day 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 | 40° | 21° | 1.4" | 3.5" | 11 | 22° – 36° |
| February | 44° | 22° | 0.9" | 1.4" | 9 | 26° – 41° |
| March | 51° | 26° | 1.3" | 1.2" | 10 | 34° – 43° |
| April | 57° | 30° | 1.5" | 0.3" | 12 | 39° – 49° |
| May | 67° | 37° | 1.9" | 0 | 12 | 46° – 58° |
| June | 75° | 42° | 1.3" | 0 | 9 | 54° – 66° |
| July | 87° | 47° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 56° – 72° |
| August | 86° | 45° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 61° – 69° |
| September | 77° | 39° | 0.5" | 0 | 4 | 54° – 62° |
| October | 62° | 31° | 1.2" | 0.2" | 8 | 39° – 52° |
| November | 47° | 26° | 1.4" | 1.0" | 11 | 30° – 43° |
| December | 38° | 20° | 1.5" | 2.0" | 11 | 22° – 33° |
| Year | 61° | 32° | 13.7" | 9.6" | 103 |
“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 John Day
John Day gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 103 days a year.
About 113 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 28 and the first one by September 18. That leaves about 113 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in John Day
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In John Day, 96% of that work is heating and 4% 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.
How John Day 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 John Day averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.3°). The shift is smaller than in 75% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at John Day’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. July swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 56° to 72°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about John Day’s climate
What is the coldest month in John Day?
December, with a typical high of 38° and a low of 20°.
What is the hottest month in John Day?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 47°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does John Day get?
About 10 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in John Day?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 18, and the last spring frost by May 28.
What is the rainiest month in John Day?
May, with 1.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 14 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for John Day itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at John Day, OR (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.