Steptoe, WA climate
Steptoe has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 27 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Steptoe feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Steptoe 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 | 37° | 26° | 2.4" | 8.8" | 14 | 21° – 38° |
| February | 42° | 27° | 1.7" | 2.7" | 11 | 23° – 41° |
| March | 49° | 31° | 2.1" | 1.4" | 12 | 33° – 45° |
| April | 57° | 35° | 1.7" | 0.4" | 10 | 41° – 53° |
| May | 66° | 42° | 1.8" | 0 | 9 | 49° – 59° |
| June | 72° | 47° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 55° – 67° |
| July | 84° | 51° | 0.5" | 0 | 3 | 60° – 72° |
| August | 84° | 50° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 62° – 71° |
| September | 74° | 44° | 0.7" | 0 | 4 | 55° – 64° |
| October | 59° | 36° | 1.6" | 0.1" | 9 | 42° – 54° |
| November | 44° | 30° | 2.4" | 2.5" | 13 | 29° – 44° |
| December | 36° | 25° | 2.6" | 10.7" | 14 | 24° – 35° |
| Year | 59° | 37° | 19.2" | 26.6" | 110 |
“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 Steptoe
Steptoe gets 19 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 110 days a year.
About 161 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 29 and the first one by October 4. That leaves about 161 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 70% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Steptoe
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Steptoe, 94% of that work is heating and 6% 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 Steptoe 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 Steptoe averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.2°). The shift is larger than in 78% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Steptoe’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 23° to 41°. September is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Steptoe’s climate
What is the coldest month in Steptoe?
December, with a typical high of 36° and a low of 25°.
What is the hottest month in Steptoe?
August, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 50°. About 28 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Steptoe get?
About 27 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Steptoe?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 4, and the last spring frost by April 29.
What is the rainiest month in Steptoe?
December, with 2.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 19 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Steptoe itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at St John, WA (13 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.