Pendleton, SC climate
Pendleton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 33°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Pendleton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Pendleton 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° | 4.5" | 0.8" | 11 | 0 | 36° – 49° |
| February | 57° | 35° | 4.1" | 0.8" | 11 | 0 | 39° – 54° |
| March | 65° | 42° | 4.6" | 0.3" | 11 | 0 | 46° – 63° |
| April | 73° | 48° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| May | 80° | 57° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| June | 87° | 66° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 4.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 68° | 4.5" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| September | 83° | 62° | 3.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| October | 73° | 51° | 3.4" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| November | 63° | 40° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 47° – 56° |
| December | 55° | 35° | 4.7" | 0.3" | 11 | 0 | 36° – 55° |
| Year | 72° | 51° | 49.2" | 2.2" | 120 | 1 |
“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 Pendleton
Pendleton gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 120 days a year.
About 217 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 1 and the first one by November 3. That leaves about 217 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Pendleton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Pendleton, 63% of that work is heating and 37% 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.
Pendleton and its neighbors
Pendleton borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.3°. Clemson has the coldest January nights (33°) and La France the hottest July afternoons (90°). Pendleton’s January low is 33° and its July high 90°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Pendleton 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 Pendleton averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 54% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Pendleton’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 Pendleton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Pendleton?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Pendleton?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 55 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Pendleton get?
About 2 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Pendleton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 3, and the last spring frost by April 1.
What is the rainiest month in Pendleton?
December, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Pendleton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Clemson Univ, SC (3 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.