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Climate in Park Ridge · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Park Ridge has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 49 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Park Ridge at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan24°7° 12" snow
Feb29°10° 12" snow
Mar41°21° 7" snow
Apr55°32°
May68°44° Nice outLast frost ~4
Jun77°54° Nice outWettest
Jul81°58° Nice outWarmest
Aug79°56° Nice out
Sep71°48° Nice out
Oct now58°36° First frost ~7
Nov42°25°
Dec29°14° 12" snow
A normal year

What a year in Park Ridge feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
27° / 10°
17 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
55° / 32°
Last frost around May 4
Summer
79° / 56°
4 days reach 90°
Fall
57° / 37°
First frost around Oct 7
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

49 inches of snow, 33 of rain and melt

June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 125 days a year.

33"
Rain + melted snow a year
909th driest of 2,050 Wisconsin towns
Less than 69% of U.S. towns
49"
Snow in a normal winter
852nd snowiest of 2,046 Wisconsin towns
More than 81% of U.S. towns
102 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
435th snowiest of 1,804 Wisconsin towns
More than 91% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.8"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

12"
JFMAMJJASOND
Frost & heat

About 155 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 4 and the first by October 7.

164
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
25
nights below 0° in a normal year
4
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

31
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

1.8
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Park Ridge’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

155 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 4 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 7.

Snow season

About 49" a winter over 17 days with an inch or more, most in December. Snow covers the ground about 102 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 95% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 4 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 81°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 0.1 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Park Ridge averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.4°).

+1.6°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 73% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+3.2°now 19°, was 15°
🌷 Spring+1.2°now 43°, was 42°
☀️ Summer+0.5°now 67°, was 67°
🍂 Fall+1.2°now 47°, was 45°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Park Ridge compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Wisconsin.

Summer heat81° July high
Cooler than 83% of U.S. towns954th coolest of 2,050 Wisconsin towns
Winter cold7° January low
Colder than 86% of U.S. towns864th coldest of 2,050 Wisconsin towns
Precipitation33" a year
Drier than 69% of U.S. towns909th driest of 2,050 Wisconsin towns
Snow49" a winter
Snowier than 81% of U.S. towns852nd snowiest of 2,046 Wisconsin towns
Growing season155 frost-free days
Shorter than 76% of U.S. towns784th longest of 2,050 Wisconsin towns
Month by month

Park Ridge weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January24°7°1.1" 11.6"10275° – 27°
February29°10°1.1" 11.5"8288° – 31°
March41°21°1.8" 6.9"91922° – 46°
April55°32°3.2" 4.2"12333° – 51°
May68°44°3.9" 012049° – 63°
June77°54°4.8" 012061° – 70°
July81°58°3.8" 011063° – 75°
August79°56°4.0" 010062° – 72°
September71°48°3.6" 011053° – 65°
October58°36°2.8" 0.3"11042° – 53°
November42°25°1.9" 1.9"9424° – 43°
December29°14°1.5" 12.3"10218° – 33°
Year54°34°33.4"48.7"125102
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Park Ridge

95% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

95%heating
8,037 heating degree daysMore heating than 86% of U.S. towns
451 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 81% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 22° to 46°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Park Ridge’s climate

What is the coldest month in Park Ridge?

January, with a typical high of 24° and a low of 7°.

What is the hottest month in Park Ridge?

July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 58°. About 4 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Park Ridge get?

About 49 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.

When is the first frost in Park Ridge?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 7, and the last spring frost by May 4.

What is the rainiest month in Park Ridge?

June, with 4.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 33 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Park Ridge.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Park Ridge winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Park Ridge itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Stevens Pt, WI (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.

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