New Union sits near the top of U.S. towns for precipitation, with 57 inches a year
Midwinter brings lows of about 32°. In January, nights here are milder than in 75% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.8°, most of all in December. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about March 31, with the first autumn frost due around November 3.
A year in New Union at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about New Union’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with New Union’s place in Alabama beside it.
What a year in New Union feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 217 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 31 and the first by November 3. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Sand Mt Substn, AL, 18 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts New Union’s center in zone 8a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 13°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 57 inches of rain a year
March is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain falls on about 108 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.9" in a normal year at Boaz, AL, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in New Union
70% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Sand Mt Substn, AL.
Living with New Union’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
217 frost-free days in zone 8a. The last frost comes by Mar 31 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 3.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, May, September, October and November.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in New Union from natural hazards, tornadoes are the largest share (39%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 10%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →New Union and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of New Union in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like New Union’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Union, AL | 32° | 88° | 57" | 0.9" |
| Toccoa, GA | 33° | 89° | 57" | 1.4" |
| Piney Green, NC | 34° | 89° | 57" | 0.6" |
| Berea, SC | 32° | 89° | 56" | 1.9" |
| Kingston, TN | 29° | 88° | 57" | 1.8" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in New Union averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.7°).
A smaller shift than in 90% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How New Union compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with New Union’s place among Alabama’s.
New Union weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at New Union’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Boaz, AL. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 32° | 5.4" | 0.5" | 10 | 0 | 34° – 49° |
| February | 56° | 35° | 5.3" | 0.4" | 10 | 0 | 37° – 53° |
| March | 64° | 42° | 5.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 47° – 63° |
| April | 72° | 49° | 5.3" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 56° – 66° |
| May | 79° | 58° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| June | 86° | 65° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 88° | 69° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 76° – 81° |
| August | 88° | 68° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 73° – 83° |
| September | 83° | 62° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| October | 74° | 50° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 58° – 68° |
| November | 62° | 40° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 45° – 57° |
| December | 54° | 35° | 5.6" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 35° – 55° |
| Year | 71° | 50° | 57.3" | 0.9" | 108 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 35° to 55°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where New Union’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at New Union’s center.
- Snow: Boaz, AL.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Sand Mt Substn, AL, 18 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about New Union’s climate
What is the weather like in New Union?
A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 75% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 70% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in New Union in winter?
January nights average 32°. About 65 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 34°.
How much snow does New Union get?
About 0.9 inches in a normal winter at Boaz, AL, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in New Union?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 69°. About 31 days a year reach 90° (Sand Mt Substn, AL).
When is the first and last frost in New Union?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 31 and the first fall frost by November 3, about 217 frost-free days, at Sand Mt Substn, AL.
What growing zone is New Union in?
Zone 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 13°.
What is the best time of year to visit New Union?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, May, September, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is New Union getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.8° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 90% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in New Union.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.