Chelan, WA climate
Chelan has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 21 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Chelan feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Chelan 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 23° | 1.6" | 7.7" | 9 | 20° – 33° |
| February | 41° | 25° | 1.1" | 2.0" | 7 | 21° – 39° |
| March | 52° | 31° | 1.0" | 0.7" | 7 | 36° – 47° |
| April | 61° | 37° | 0.7" | 0 | 5 | 44° – 55° |
| May | 71° | 46° | 1.0" | 0 | 6 | 53° – 64° |
| June | 78° | 52° | 0.8" | 0 | 5 | 61° – 73° |
| July | 87° | 58° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 65° – 76° |
| August | 87° | 57° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 65° – 76° |
| September | 77° | 49° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 60° – 68° |
| October | 61° | 38° | 1.0" | 0 | 6 | 44° – 54° |
| November | 44° | 29° | 1.4" | 1.4" | 9 | 32° – 43° |
| December | 33° | 23° | 2.0" | 8.7" | 10 | 22° – 34° |
| Year | 60° | 39° | 11.7" | 20.5" | 71 |
“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 Chelan
Chelan gets 12 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 71 days a year.
About 187 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 17 and the first one by October 22. That leaves about 187 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 60% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Chelan
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Chelan, 90% of that work is heating and 10% 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 Chelan 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 Chelan averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.1°). The shift is smaller than in 51% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Chelan’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 21° to 39°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Chelan’s climate
What is the coldest month in Chelan?
January, with a typical high of 33° and a low of 23°.
What is the hottest month in Chelan?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 58°. About 25 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Chelan get?
About 21 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Chelan?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 22, and the last spring frost by April 17.
What is the rainiest month in Chelan?
December, with 2.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 12 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Chelan itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Chelan, WA (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.