Amherst, VA climate
Amherst has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Amherst feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Amherst 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 | 46° | 27° | 3.7" | 3.5" | 10 | 2 | 30° – 43° |
| February | 50° | 29° | 3.0" | 3.6" | 10 | 3 | 30° – 47° |
| March | 58° | 35° | 4.0" | 2.4" | 11 | 1 | 40° – 56° |
| April | 69° | 44° | 3.9" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| May | 76° | 53° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 58° – 71° |
| June | 83° | 61° | 4.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68° – 77° |
| July | 87° | 66° | 4.3" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| August | 85° | 64° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| September | 79° | 58° | 4.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| October | 69° | 45° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 54° – 63° |
| November | 58° | 35° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 41° – 52° |
| December | 49° | 30° | 4.0" | 2.0" | 9 | 1 | 30° – 49° |
| Year | 67° | 45° | 48.5" | 11.6" | 119 | 7 |
“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 Amherst
Amherst gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 119 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 7 days of the year.
About 193 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 15 and the first one by October 25. That leaves about 193 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 67% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Amherst
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Amherst, 78% of that work is heating and 22% 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 Amherst 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 Amherst averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°). The shift is smaller than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Amherst’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 30° to 49°. July is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Amherst’s climate
What is the coldest month in Amherst?
January, with a typical high of 46° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Amherst?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 66°. About 31 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Amherst get?
About 12 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Amherst?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 25, and the last spring frost by April 15.
What is the rainiest month in Amherst?
September, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Amherst itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lynchburg Rgnl Airport, VA (20 mi, snow) and Tye Rvr 1 Se, VA (8 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.