Altoona, PA climate
Altoona has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Altoona feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Altoona 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 | 36° | 20° | 2.7" | 10.1" | 15 | 16 | 19° – 36° |
| February | 39° | 21° | 2.4" | 11.0" | 12 | 15 | 18° – 38° |
| March | 49° | 27° | 3.3" | 7.6" | 12 | 8 | 32° – 49° |
| April | 62° | 37° | 3.6" | 0.6" | 14 | 0 | 44° – 55° |
| May | 72° | 47° | 3.9" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 53° – 66° |
| June | 80° | 56° | 4.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 64° – 70° |
| July | 84° | 60° | 3.8" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| August | 82° | 59° | 3.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| September | 75° | 52° | 4.0" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 61° – 67° |
| October | 64° | 40° | 3.3" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| November | 51° | 32° | 3.0" | 1.2" | 14 | 2 | 36° – 47° |
| December | 40° | 25° | 3.0" | 7.6" | 14 | 10 | 23° – 43° |
| Year | 61° | 39° | 40.6" | 38.1" | 159 | 50 |
“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 Altoona
Altoona gets 41 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 159 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 50 days of the year.
About 176 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 25 and the first one by October 21. That leaves about 176 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 53% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Altoona
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Altoona, 91% of that work is heating and 9% 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.
Altoona and its neighbors
Altoona borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. Logan has the coldest January nights (19°) and Allegheny the hottest July afternoons (83°). Altoona’s January low is 20° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Altoona 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 Altoona averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Altoona’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 23° to 43°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Altoona’s climate
What is the coldest month in Altoona?
January, with a typical high of 36° and a low of 20°.
What is the hottest month in Altoona?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 60°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Altoona get?
About 38 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Altoona?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 21, and the last spring frost by April 25.
What is the rainiest month in Altoona?
September, with 4.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 41 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Altoona itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Altoona 3 W, PA (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.