South Bend, WA climate
South Bend has mild winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 69°, a January night drops to 37°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South Bend feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Bend 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 | 49° | 37° | 12.3" | 0.5" | 23 | 0 | 37° – 47° |
| February | 51° | 36° | 7.8" | 0.1" | 20 | 0 | 37° – 49° |
| March | 54° | 37° | 8.9" | 0 | 23 | 0 | 42° – 50° |
| April | 57° | 40° | 6.2" | 0 | 21 | 0 | 44° – 53° |
| May | 62° | 45° | 3.5" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 50° – 57° |
| June | 65° | 49° | 2.6" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 54° – 60° |
| July | 69° | 52° | 0.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 58° – 64° |
| August | 70° | 52° | 1.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 59° – 63° |
| September | 68° | 48° | 2.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 55° – 62° |
| October | 61° | 43° | 7.6" | 0 | 21 | 0 | 49° – 57° |
| November | 53° | 39° | 12.2" | 0 | 23 | 0 | 41° – 50° |
| December | 48° | 36° | 11.7" | 0.5" | 23 | 0 | 38° – 45° |
| Year | 59° | 43° | 78.0" | 1.1" | 211 | 0 |
“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 South Bend
South Bend gets 78 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 211 days a year.
About 177 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first one by October 17. That leaves about 177 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 51% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South Bend
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Bend, 99% of that work is heating and 1% 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 South Bend 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 South Bend averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.2°). The shift is smaller than in 61% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Bend’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 37° to 49°. August is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about South Bend’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Bend?
February, with a typical high of 51° and a low of 36°.
What is the hottest month in South Bend?
August, with a typical high of 70° and a low of 52°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Bend get?
About 1 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in South Bend?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 17, and the last spring frost by April 26.
What is the rainiest month in South Bend?
January, with 12.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 78 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Bend itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Raymond 2 S, WA (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.