Harrisonburg, VA climate
Harrisonburg has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Harrisonburg feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Harrisonburg 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 | 43° | 24° | 2.8" | 4.2" | 10 | 5 | 26° – 40° |
| February | 47° | 26° | 2.4" | 6.2" | 9 | 6 | 27° – 46° |
| March | 55° | 32° | 3.5" | 4.5" | 12 | 3 | 37° – 54° |
| April | 66° | 41° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 13 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| May | 74° | 50° | 4.3" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| June | 82° | 59° | 4.5" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| July | 85° | 62° | 4.4" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| August | 84° | 61° | 3.8" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 69° – 76° |
| September | 77° | 54° | 4.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| October | 67° | 43° | 2.9" | 0.2" | 9 | 0 | 52° – 60° |
| November | 56° | 33° | 2.8" | 0.6" | 10 | 0 | 40° – 50° |
| December | 47° | 27° | 3.0" | 3.6" | 11 | 4 | 28° – 47° |
| Year | 65° | 43° | 41.8" | 19.4" | 134 | 19 |
“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 Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg gets 42 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 134 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 19 days of the year.
About 182 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 21 and the first one by October 23. That leaves about 182 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 55% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Harrisonburg
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Harrisonburg, 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 Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 65% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Harrisonburg’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 47°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Harrisonburg’s climate
What is the coldest month in Harrisonburg?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Harrisonburg?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 62°. About 21 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Harrisonburg get?
About 19 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Harrisonburg?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 23, and the last spring frost by April 21.
What is the rainiest month in Harrisonburg?
June, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 42 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Harrisonburg itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Dale Enterprise, VA (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.