La Grande, WA climate
La Grande has mild winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 76°, a January night drops to 34°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in La Grande feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
La Grande 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 | 45° | 34° | 6.9" | 1.5" | 20 | 2 | 34° – 45° |
| February | 47° | 33° | 5.3" | 0.5" | 15 | 0 | 33° – 47° |
| March | 51° | 35° | 5.8" | 0.6" | 20 | 1 | 38° – 49° |
| April | 56° | 38° | 5.2" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 42° – 54° |
| May | 64° | 43° | 3.9" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| June | 69° | 48° | 3.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| July | 76° | 51° | 1.1" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| August | 76° | 52° | 1.4" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| September | 70° | 48° | 2.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 55° – 63° |
| October | 58° | 41° | 5.2" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 46° – 55° |
| November | 49° | 36° | 7.7" | 1.5" | 19 | 1 | 37° – 47° |
| December | 43° | 33° | 7.7" | 1.5" | 20 | 2 | 33° – 41° |
| Year | 59° | 41° | 56.0" | 5.6" | 166 | 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 La Grande
La Grande gets 56 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 166 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 5 days of the year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 30. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in La Grande
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In La Grande, 98% of that work is heating and 2% 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 La Grande 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 La Grande averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°). The shift is smaller than in 60% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at La Grande’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 33° to 47°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about La Grande’s climate
What is the coldest month in La Grande?
December, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in La Grande?
August, with a typical high of 76° and a low of 52°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does La Grande get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in La Grande?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 30, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in La Grande?
December, with 7.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 56 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for La Grande itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mcmillin Rsvr, WA (22 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.