William H. Smith House · Photo: Judylfhines · CC BY-SA 3.0Precipitation in Emerson tops that of 93% of U.S. towns: 55 inches a year
Midwinter brings lows of about 34°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 89% of U.S. towns. Next to 1901–2000, the year’s average is all but unchanged. Plan time outside from March to May and October to November, when highs sit at 65–82°.
A year in Emerson at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Emerson’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Emerson’s place in Arkansas beside it.
What a year in Emerson feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 218 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 31 and the first by November 2. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Magnolia, AR, 11 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Emerson’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 16°. 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 2 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Magnolia, AR, falls mostly in January. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 55 inches a year; December is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 103 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Emerson
59% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through February.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Magnolia, AR.
Living with Emerson’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
218 frost-free days in zone 8b. 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 2.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, May, October and November. 1.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Emerson from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (24%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 31%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Emerson and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Emerson yet.
Climates most like Emerson’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson, AR | 34° | 92° | 55" | 1.7" |
| Hueytown, AL | 33° | 91° | 55" | 1.2" |
| Columbus, MS | 33° | 92° | 56" | 0.4" |
| Memphis, TN | 32° | 91° | 56" | 2.7" |
| McDonough, GA | 34° | 90° | 51" | 0.8" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
About as warm as it used to be
The last 30 years in Emerson averaged 0.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+0.7°).
A smaller shift than in all but 47 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 Emerson compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Emerson’s place among Arkansas’.
Emerson weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Emerson’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Magnolia, AR. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55° | 34° | 4.8" | 0.9" | 10 | 1 | 39° – 51° |
| February | 60° | 37° | 4.7" | 0.6" | 10 | 1 | 40° – 56° |
| March | 68° | 44° | 5.4" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 51° – 64° |
| April | 75° | 51° | 5.3" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 58° – 68° |
| May | 82° | 60° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| June | 89° | 68° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 76° – 84° |
| July | 92° | 71° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 78° – 86° |
| August | 93° | 70° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 77° – 88° |
| September | 87° | 64° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 72° – 82° |
| October | 77° | 51° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| November | 65° | 42° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| December | 57° | 36° | 5.5" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 37° – 52° |
| Year | 75° | 52° | 54.8" | 1.7" | 103 | 1 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 40° to 56°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Emerson’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 Emerson’s center.
- Snow: Magnolia, AR.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Magnolia, AR, 11 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 Emerson’s climate
What is the weather like in Emerson?
A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 34°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 79% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 89% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Emerson in winter?
January nights average 34°. About 58 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 39°.
How much snow does Emerson get?
About 1.7 inches in a normal winter at Magnolia, AR, most of it in January, with snow on the ground about 1 days a year.
How hot does it get in Emerson?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 71°. About 76 days a year reach 90° and 8 reach 100° (Magnolia, AR).
When is the first and last frost in Emerson?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 31 and the first fall frost by November 2, about 218 frost-free days, at Magnolia, AR.
What growing zone is Emerson in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 16°.
What is the best time of year to visit Emerson?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, May, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Emerson getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than all but 47 U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Emerson.
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.