Fair Play, SC climate
Fair Play has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 33°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Fair Play feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Fair Play 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 | 53° | 33° | 4.6" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 36° – 49° |
| February | 57° | 35° | 4.3" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 38° – 54° |
| March | 65° | 41° | 4.6" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 62° |
| April | 73° | 48° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| May | 80° | 57° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| June | 87° | 65° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 76° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 68° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| September | 83° | 62° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| October | 73° | 51° | 3.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 58° – 66° |
| November | 63° | 40° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 56° |
| December | 55° | 35° | 4.6" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 36° – 55° |
| Year | 72° | 50° | 49.5" | 0.9" | 111 | 0 |
“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 Fair Play
Fair Play gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. March is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 111 days a year.
About 241 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 20 and the first one by November 15. That leaves about 241 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 89% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Fair Play
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Fair Play, 64% of that work is heating and 36% is cooling.
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 Fair Play 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 Fair Play averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is smaller than in 70% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Fair Play’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 36° to 55°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Fair Play’s climate
What is the coldest month in Fair Play?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Fair Play?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 36 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Fair Play get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.9 inches.
When is the first frost in Fair Play?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 15, and the last spring frost by March 20.
What is the rainiest month in Fair Play?
March, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Fair Play itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Hartwell, GA (11 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.