McKay, OR climate
McKay has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McKay feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McKay 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 | 41° | 27° | 2.1" | 3.7" | 10 | 5 | 25° – 39° |
| February | 45° | 28° | 1.8" | 2.1" | 9 | 3 | 28° – 43° |
| March | 52° | 32° | 2.1" | 0.5" | 11 | 1 | 36° – 47° |
| April | 58° | 36° | 2.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 42° – 53° |
| May | 66° | 42° | 2.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| June | 74° | 47° | 1.7" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 56° – 68° |
| July | 85° | 53° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 60° – 73° |
| August | 84° | 52° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64° – 71° |
| September | 75° | 47° | 0.8" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58° – 65° |
| October | 62° | 38° | 1.6" | 0.1" | 7 | 0 | 44° – 56° |
| November | 48° | 32° | 2.3" | 1.1" | 11 | 1 | 34° – 47° |
| December | 40° | 26° | 2.2" | 2.6" | 11 | 4 | 27° – 37° |
| Year | 61° | 38° | 20.0" | 10.1" | 94 | 13 |
“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 McKay
McKay gets 20 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 94 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 13 days of the year.
About 147 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 7 and the first one by October 4. That leaves about 147 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 83% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McKay
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McKay, 90% of that work is heating and 10% 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 McKay 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 McKay averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.9°). The shift is larger than in 89% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McKay’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 28° to 43°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about McKay’s climate
What is the coldest month in McKay?
December, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 26°.
What is the hottest month in McKay?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 53°. About 44 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McKay get?
About 10 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in McKay?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 4, and the last spring frost by May 7.
What is the rainiest month in McKay?
May, with 2.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 20 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McKay itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Pilot Rock 1 Se, OR (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.