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Climate in Rockwood · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Rockwood has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain

A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Rockwood at a glance

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

Jan47°29° Coldest
Feb52°31°
Mar61°38°
Apr71°45° Nice outLast frost ~8
May78°54° Nice out
Jun85°62° 5 days 90°+
Jul88°67° 11 days 90°+
Aug87°65° 12 days 90°+
Sep82°59° Nice out4 days 90°+
Oct now72°47° Nice outFirst frost ~31
Nov60°36°
Dec51°31° Wettest
A normal year

What a year in Rockwood feels like

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

Winter
50° / 30°
Snow is rare
Spring
70° / 46°
Last frost around Apr 8
Summer
87° / 65°
32 days reach 90°
Fall
71° / 47°
First frost around Oct 31
Best months to be outsideAprMaySepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

2 inches of snow, 57 of rain and melt

December is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 113 days a year.

57"
Rain + melted snow a year
129th wettest of 504 Tennessee towns
More than 96% of U.S. towns
2"
Snow in a normal winter
151st least snowy of 503 Tennessee towns
Less than 83% of U.S. towns
1 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
87th least snowy of 470 Tennessee towns
Less than 80% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

6.2"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

1.2"
JFMAMJJASOND
Frost & heat

About 203 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 8 and the first by October 31.

93
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
<1
nights below 0° in a normal year
32
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

22
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

12
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Rockwood’s climate

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

The garden window

203 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 8 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 31.

Little snow to shovel

About 2" in a normal winter.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from November through March. Heating is 76% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 32 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 88°.

Get outside

The nicest months are April, May, September and October. 2.2 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 →
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Rockwood averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.9°).

+0.8°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 82% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+1.2°now 40°, was 39°
🌷 Spring+0.8°now 58°, was 57°
☀️ Summer+0.6°now 76°, was 75°
🍂 Fall+0.7°now 59°, was 58°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Rockwood compares

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

Summer heat88° July high
Hotter than 70% of U.S. towns160th coolest of 504 Tennessee towns
Winter cold29° January low
Milder than 79% of U.S. towns234th coldest of 504 Tennessee towns
Precipitation57" a year
Wetter than 96% of U.S. towns129th wettest of 504 Tennessee towns
Snow2" a winter
Less snow than 83% of U.S. towns151st least snowy of 503 Tennessee towns
Growing season203 frost-free days
Longer than 74% of U.S. towns193rd shortest of 504 Tennessee towns
Month by month

Rockwood 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
January47°29°5.0" 0.7"10029° – 45°
February52°31°5.1" 1.2"9031° – 49°
March61°38°5.5" 011042° – 60°
April71°45°5.1" 010053° – 63°
May78°54°4.3" 010060° – 72°
June85°62°4.7" 011070° – 78°
July88°67°5.1" 011074° – 80°
August87°65°3.6" 09072° – 82°
September82°59°4.3" 08067° – 76°
October72°47°3.4" 07055° – 64°
November60°36°4.6" 08042° – 53°
December51°31°6.2" 0.1"10032° – 52°
Year69°47°56.8"2.0"1131
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Rockwood

76% of the work is heating.

76%heating
3,972 heating degree daysLess heating than 79% of U.S. towns
1,266 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 71% 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 32° to 52°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Rockwood’s climate

What is the coldest month in Rockwood?

January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 29°.

What is the hottest month in Rockwood?

July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 67°. About 32 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Rockwood get?

About 2 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.

When is the first frost in Rockwood?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 31, and the last spring frost by April 8.

What is the rainiest month in Rockwood?

December, with 6.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 57 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

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

Town Square →
Weigh in
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Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Rockwood itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Rockwood 2, TN (3 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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