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Climate in Thorndale · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Thorndale has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain

A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Thorndale at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan39°22° 8" snow
Feb42°23° 12" snow
Mar51°30° 6" snow
Apr63°40° Last frost ~19
May73°50° Nice out
Jun81°59° Nice out3 days 90°+
Jul86°65° 7 days 90°+
Aug84°63° Nice out5 days 90°+
Sep77°55° Nice outWettest
Oct now65°43° Nice outFirst frost ~25
Nov54°34°
Dec44°27° 4" snow

What stands out about Thorndale’s climate

Read from where Thorndale sits among Pennsylvania’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · A normal year

What a year in Thorndale feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
42° / 24°
8 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
62° / 40°
Last frost around Apr 19
Summer
84° / 62°
16 days reach 90°
Fall
65° / 44°
First frost around Oct 25
Best months to be outsideMayJunAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Living here

Living with Thorndale’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

190 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 19 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 25.

Snow season

About 32" a winter over 8 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 35 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 85% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 16 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 86°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, August, September and October. 0.4 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Rain & snow

32 inches of snow, 48 of rain and melt

September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 131 days a year.

48"
Rain + melted snow a year
511th wettest of 3,547 Pennsylvania towns
More than 82% of U.S. towns
32"
Snow in a normal winter
1754th least snowy of 3,541 Pennsylvania towns
More than 60% of U.S. towns
35 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
1259th least snowy of 3,014 Pennsylvania towns
More than 56% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.9"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

12"
JFMAMJJASOND
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Thorndale averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°).

+1.8°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 88% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.8°now 33°, was 30°
🌷 Spring+1.4°now 51°, was 50°
☀️ Summer+1.6°now 73°, was 71°
🍂 Fall+1.5°now 55°, was 53°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost & heat

About 190 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 19 and the first by October 25.

120
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
<1
nights below 0° in a normal year
16
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

27
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

6.5
JFMAMJJASOND
Next door

Thorndale and its neighbors

Caln has the coldest January nights next door (22°) and West Bradford the hottest July afternoons (86°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Downingtown: January low 22°, July high 87°East Caln: January low 22°, July high 87°East Brandywine: January low 22°, July high 86°Valley: January low 22°, July high 85°Coatesville: January low 22°, July high 86°West Brandywine: January low 22°, July high 85°East Fallowfield: January low 22°, July high 86°East Bradford: January low 22°, July high 87°Pocopson: January low 23°, July high 87°Newlin: January low 23°, July high 86°Caln: January low 22°, July high 86°West Bradford: January low 22°, July high 86°Thorndale: January low 22°, July high 86° ThorndaleCalnWest Bradford
ColderMilder22° to 23°
Thorndale22.0°
Caln22.0° same
West Bradford22.2° +0.2°

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Compared with other towns

How Thorndale compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Pennsylvania.

Summer heat86° July high
Hotter than 56% of U.S. towns661st hottest of 3,547 Pennsylvania towns
Winter cold22° January low
Milder than 63% of U.S. towns443rd mildest of 3,547 Pennsylvania towns
Precipitation48" a year
Wetter than 82% of U.S. towns511th wettest of 3,547 Pennsylvania towns
Snow32" a winter
Snowier than 60% of U.S. towns1754th least snowy of 3,541 Pennsylvania towns
Growing season190 frost-free days
Longer than 64% of U.S. towns537th longest of 3,547 Pennsylvania towns
Month by month

Thorndale weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January39°22°3.4" 7.9"121122° – 38°
February42°23°2.8" 11.5"101322° – 41°
March51°30°4.2" 6.3"12535° – 49°
April63°40°3.8" 1.1"12047° – 57°
May73°50°3.8" 011057° – 67°
June81°59°4.5" 011067° – 74°
July86°65°4.7" 011071° – 79°
August84°63°4.3" 010069° – 77°
September77°55°4.9" 010063° – 70°
October65°43°4.4" 09050° – 61°
November54°34°3.3" 0.7"10139° – 49°
December44°27°4.1" 4.4"11627° – 47°
Year63°43°48.2"31.9"13135
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Thorndale

85% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

85%heating
5,338 heating degree daysLess heating than 59% of U.S. towns
909 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 55% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 27° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Thorndale’s climate

What is the coldest month in Thorndale?

January, with a typical high of 39° and a low of 22°.

What is the hottest month in Thorndale?

July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 65°. About 16 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Thorndale get?

About 32 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.

When is the first frost in Thorndale?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 25, and the last spring frost by April 19.

What is the rainiest month in Thorndale?

September, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 48 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Thorndale.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Is Thorndale’s weather one of its best features?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Thorndale itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Coatesville 2 W, PA (6 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.

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