McDowell, VA climate
McDowell has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 39 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McDowell feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McDowell 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 | 40° | 21° | 3.3" | 10.2" | 13 | 11 | 22° – 37° |
| February | 43° | 23° | 2.8" | 11.2" | 12 | 10 | 22° – 41° |
| March | 52° | 29° | 3.8" | 7.2" | 13 | 4 | 33° – 50° |
| April | 64° | 37° | 4.0" | 0.7" | 13 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| May | 72° | 46° | 4.5" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 53° – 65° |
| June | 78° | 55° | 4.2" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| July | 82° | 58° | 4.3" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| August | 80° | 57° | 3.9" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| September | 74° | 51° | 4.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| October | 64° | 39° | 3.0" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 48° – 56° |
| November | 53° | 30° | 3.1" | 2.2" | 10 | 1 | 35° – 47° |
| December | 43° | 24° | 3.7" | 7.4" | 12 | 7 | 23° – 45° |
| Year | 62° | 39° | 44.6" | 39.1" | 149 | 33 |
“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 McDowell
McDowell gets 45 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 149 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 33 days of the year.
About 148 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 8 and the first one by October 5. That leaves about 148 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 82% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McDowell
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McDowell, 95% of that work is heating and 5% 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 McDowell 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 McDowell averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.2°). The shift is smaller than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McDowell’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 23° to 45°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about McDowell’s climate
What is the coldest month in McDowell?
January, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 21°.
What is the hottest month in McDowell?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 58°.
How much snow does McDowell get?
About 39 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in McDowell?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 8.
What is the rainiest month in McDowell?
May, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 45 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McDowell itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mustoe 1 Sw, VA (9 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.