Big Stone Gap, VA climate
Big Stone Gap has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Big Stone Gap feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Big Stone Gap 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 | 44° | 26° | 4.2" | 3.1" | 12 | 3 | 27° – 42° |
| February | 49° | 28° | 4.4" | 2.9" | 12 | 2 | 27° – 45° |
| March | 57° | 34° | 4.8" | 1.3" | 14 | 1 | 38° – 56° |
| April | 68° | 42° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 49° – 59° |
| May | 75° | 50° | 4.8" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 56° – 68° |
| June | 81° | 59° | 4.9" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 65° – 74° |
| July | 84° | 63° | 5.2" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 69° – 76° |
| August | 83° | 62° | 4.0" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 70° – 77° |
| September | 79° | 55° | 3.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 63° – 72° |
| October | 68° | 43° | 3.0" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| November | 57° | 33° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 38° – 51° |
| December | 47° | 29° | 5.1" | 1.8" | 12 | 1 | 28° – 49° |
| Year | 66° | 44° | 51.7" | 9.2" | 141 | 5 |
“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 Big Stone Gap
Big Stone Gap gets 52 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 141 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 5 days of the year.
About 186 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 20 and the first one by October 23. That leaves about 186 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 59% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Big Stone Gap
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Big Stone Gap, 84% of that work is heating and 16% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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 Big Stone Gap 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 Big Stone Gap averaged 0.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.7°). The shift is smaller than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Big Stone Gap’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 28° to 49°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Big Stone Gap’s climate
What is the coldest month in Big Stone Gap?
January, with a typical high of 44° and a low of 26°.
What is the hottest month in Big Stone Gap?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 63°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Big Stone Gap get?
About 9 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Big Stone Gap?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 20.
What is the rainiest month in Big Stone Gap?
July, with 5.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 52 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Big Stone Gap itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Big Stone Gap, VA (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.