Thornton, TX climate
Thornton has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Thornton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Thornton 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 | 59° | 37° | 3.3" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 44° – 55° |
| February | 63° | 41° | 3.0" | 0.1" | 7 | 0 | 44° – 60° |
| March | 70° | 48° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 53° – 64° |
| April | 77° | 54° | 3.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| May | 84° | 63° | 4.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 70° – 79° |
| June | 91° | 70° | 3.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 77° – 86° |
| July | 94° | 73° | 1.8" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 80° – 89° |
| August | 96° | 72° | 2.5" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 79° – 91° |
| September | 90° | 66° | 3.5" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| October | 80° | 56° | 4.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| November | 69° | 46° | 3.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 63° |
| December | 61° | 38° | 3.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| Year | 78° | 55° | 40.5" | 0.1" | 82 | 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 Thornton
Thornton gets 40 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 82 days a year.
About 251 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 13 and the first one by November 22. That leaves about 251 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 90% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Thornton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Thornton, 42% of that work is heating and 58% 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 Thornton 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 Thornton averaged 0.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.7°). The shift is smaller than in 88% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Thornton’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 44° to 60°. October is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Thornton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Thornton?
January, with a typical high of 59° and a low of 37°.
What is the hottest month in Thornton?
August, with a typical high of 96° and a low of 72°. About 103 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Thornton get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.1 inches.
When is the first frost in Thornton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 22, and the last spring frost by March 13.
What is the rainiest month in Thornton?
May, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 40 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Thornton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Thornton 1sse, TX (1 mi, snow) and Mexia, TX (16 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.