Ochoco West, OR climate
Ochoco West has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, 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 Ochoco West feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Ochoco West 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 | 43° | 25° | 1.4" | 1.8" | 8 | 3 | 22° – 39° |
| February | 46° | 25° | 1.1" | 3.2" | 7 | 3 | 26° – 42° |
| March | 53° | 28° | 1.1" | 0.9" | 8 | 1 | 35° – 46° |
| April | 59° | 31° | 1.2" | 0.3" | 8 | 0 | 40° – 51° |
| May | 68° | 38° | 1.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 47° – 57° |
| June | 75° | 43° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55° – 66° |
| July | 86° | 48° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59° – 71° |
| August | 85° | 47° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| September | 77° | 41° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56° – 63° |
| October | 63° | 33° | 1.1" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| November | 50° | 28° | 1.5" | 1.1" | 8 | 1 | 31° – 45° |
| December | 41° | 24° | 1.7" | 1.5" | 8 | 1 | 25° – 37° |
| Year | 62° | 34° | 13.1" | 8.8" | 73 | 9 |
“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 Ochoco West
Ochoco West gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 73 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 9 days of the year.
About 113 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 1 and the first one by September 22. That leaves about 113 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Ochoco West
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Ochoco West, 95% of that work is heating and 5% 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 Ochoco West 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 Ochoco West averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.4°). The shift is larger than in 55% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Ochoco West’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 22° to 39°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Ochoco West’s climate
What is the coldest month in Ochoco West?
December, with a typical high of 41° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Ochoco West?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 48°. About 31 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Ochoco West get?
About 9 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Ochoco West?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 22, and the last spring frost by June 1.
What is the rainiest month in Ochoco West?
December, with 1.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 13 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Ochoco West itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Prineville, OR (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.