Greenville has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Greenville at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Greenville’s climate
Read from where Greenville sits among Rhode Island’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
42 inches of snow, 51 of rain and melt
October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 133 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 179 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 22 and the first by October 19.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Greenville averaged 1.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.5°).
A bigger shift than in 91% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
What a year in Greenville feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with Greenville’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
179 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 22 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 19.
About 42" a winter over 11 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 47 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 88% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 14 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August, September and October. 6.6 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Greenville and its neighbors
Glocester has the coldest January nights next door (18°) and Smithfield the hottest July afternoons (83°). Tap a town to see its climate.
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.
How Greenville compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Rhode Island.
Greenville 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 | 37° | 19° | 4.1" | 12.3" | 12 | 16 | 19° – 35° |
| February | 39° | 20° | 3.5" | 10.7" | 10 | 13 | 16° – 37° |
| March | 47° | 28° | 4.7" | 7.6" | 11 | 8 | 31° – 46° |
| April | 59° | 37° | 4.5" | 1.9" | 12 | 1 | 44° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 47° | 3.6" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| June | 78° | 56° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 63° – 69° |
| July | 83° | 62° | 3.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| August | 81° | 60° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 68° – 75° |
| September | 74° | 53° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 60° – 67° |
| October | 63° | 42° | 5.1" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| November | 52° | 33° | 4.3" | 1.0" | 10 | 1 | 37° – 47° |
| December | 42° | 25° | 4.9" | 7.9" | 11 | 9 | 26° – 44° |
| Year | 60° | 40° | 50.7" | 41.5" | 133 | 47 |
Heating and cooling a home in Greenville
88% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 16° to 37°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Greenville’s climate
What is the coldest month in Greenville?
January, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 19°.
What is the hottest month in Greenville?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 62°. About 14 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Greenville get?
About 42 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Greenville?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 19, and the last spring frost by April 22.
What is the rainiest month in Greenville?
October, with 5.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 51 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Greenville.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Greenville itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Woonsocket, RI (8 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.