La Grande, OR climate
La Grande has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in La Grande feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
La Grande 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 | 39° | 25° | 1.9" | 3.3" | 10 | 23° – 37° |
| February | 43° | 26° | 1.3" | 1.0" | 8 | 27° – 41° |
| March | 50° | 30° | 1.6" | 0.8" | 10 | 35° – 45° |
| April | 57° | 33° | 1.7" | 0.1" | 10 | 40° – 52° |
| May | 65° | 40° | 2.1" | 0 | 9 | 47° – 57° |
| June | 72° | 45° | 1.6" | 0 | 8 | 54° – 66° |
| July | 84° | 50° | 0.7" | 0 | 4 | 57° – 72° |
| August | 84° | 49° | 0.6" | 0 | 3 | 61° – 70° |
| September | 75° | 43° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 55° – 63° |
| October | 60° | 35° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 42° – 54° |
| November | 46° | 30° | 2.0" | 1.2" | 10 | 32° – 44° |
| December | 37° | 24° | 2.1" | 3.0" | 11 | 24° – 35° |
| Year | 59° | 36° | 17.5" | 9.4" | 95 |
“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 La Grande
La Grande gets 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 95 days a year.
About 146 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 6 and the first one by October 1. That leaves about 146 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 84% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in La Grande
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In La Grande, 93% of that work is heating and 7% 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 La Grande 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 La Grande averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.7°). The shift is larger than in 71% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at La Grande’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 57° to 72°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about La Grande’s climate
What is the coldest month in La Grande?
December, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in La Grande?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 50°. About 31 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does La Grande get?
About 9 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in La Grande?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 1, and the last spring frost by May 6.
What is the rainiest month in La Grande?
May, with 2.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 17 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for La Grande itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at La Grande, OR (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.