West Salem, PA climate
West Salem has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 62 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Salem feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Salem 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 | 34° | 18° | 3.0" | 18.6" | 17 | 19 | 17° – 36° |
| February | 37° | 18° | 2.4" | 13.3" | 13 | 17 | 12° – 37° |
| March | 46° | 26° | 3.2" | 9.5" | 13 | 9 | 28° – 49° |
| April | 60° | 35° | 3.9" | 1.6" | 14 | 1 | 41° – 53° |
| May | 71° | 46° | 4.0" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 51° – 65° |
| June | 78° | 55° | 4.8" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| July | 82° | 59° | 4.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 81° | 57° | 3.8" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| September | 74° | 51° | 4.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| October | 62° | 40° | 3.6" | 0.1" | 14 | 0 | 47° – 58° |
| November | 49° | 32° | 3.1" | 5.0" | 14 | 3 | 34° – 46° |
| December | 38° | 24° | 3.2" | 13.4" | 16 | 13 | 21° – 42° |
| Year | 59° | 38° | 43.6" | 61.5" | 161 | 63 |
“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 West Salem
West Salem gets 44 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 161 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 63 days of the year.
About 161 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 4 and the first one by October 14. That leaves about 161 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 70% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in West Salem
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Salem, 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.
West Salem and its neighbors
West Salem borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.8°. Hempfield has the coldest January nights (17°) and Vernon the hottest July afternoons (83°). West Salem’s January low is 18° and its July high 82°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How West Salem 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 West Salem averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 85% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Salem’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 12° to 37°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about West Salem’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Salem?
January, with a typical high of 34° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in West Salem?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 59°. About 4 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Salem get?
About 62 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in West Salem?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 14, and the last spring frost by May 4.
What is the rainiest month in West Salem?
June, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 44 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Salem itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Jamestown 2 Nw, PA (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.