Stanley, VA climate
Stanley 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 Stanley feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Stanley 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° | 2.9" | 6.1" | 10 | 4 | 26° – 40° |
| February | 47° | 26° | 2.3" | 2.7" | 8 | 4 | 27° – 45° |
| March | 54° | 32° | 3.4" | 6.2" | 11 | 2 | 37° – 53° |
| April | 66° | 41° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 12 | 0 | 49° – 58° |
| May | 74° | 50° | 4.3" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| June | 82° | 59° | 4.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| July | 85° | 63° | 4.2" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 70° – 77° |
| August | 84° | 61° | 3.9" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 69° – 76° |
| September | 77° | 54° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| October | 67° | 43° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 9 | 0 | 52° – 60° |
| November | 56° | 34° | 3.0" | 0.4" | 9 | 0 | 39° – 50° |
| December | 47° | 27° | 3.1" | 3.0" | 10 | 2 | 28° – 48° |
| Year | 65° | 43° | 43.0" | 18.6" | 123 | 12 |
“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 Stanley
Stanley gets 43 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 123 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 12 days of the year.
About 179 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 23 and the first one by October 22. That leaves about 179 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 51% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Stanley
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Stanley, 85% of that work is heating and 15% 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 Stanley 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 Stanley averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°). The shift is larger than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Stanley’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 48°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Stanley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Stanley?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Stanley?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 63°. About 25 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Stanley get?
About 19 inches in a normal winter, most of it in March.
When is the first frost in Stanley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 22, and the last spring frost by April 23.
What is the rainiest month in Stanley?
June, with 4.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 43 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Stanley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Luray 5 E, VA (9 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.