Summer afternoons in Scranton are warmer than in 90% of U.S. towns
Midwinter brings lows of about 29°. By precipitation alone, it ranks wetter than 87% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.5°, most of all in February. For walks and days out, April, May and October bring highs of 73–81°.
A year in Scranton at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Scranton’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Scranton’s place in Arkansas beside it.
What a year in Scranton feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 223 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 28 and the first by November 5. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Subiaco, AR, 7 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts Scranton’s center in zone 8a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 11°. 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 Subiaco, AR, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 51 inches a year; May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 92 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Scranton
64% 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 Subiaco, AR.
Living with Scranton’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
223 frost-free days in zone 8a. The last frost comes by Mar 28 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 5.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May and October.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Scranton from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (62%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 14%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Scranton and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Scranton yet.
Climates most like Scranton’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, AR | 29° | 93° | 51" | 2.2" |
| Kennett, MO | 29° | 90° | 51" | 2.9" |
| Millington, TN | 32° | 91° | 55" | 2.8" |
| Covington, GA | 33° | 91° | 50" | 1.3" |
| Clayton, NC | 31° | 90° | 49" | 3.2" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Scranton averaged 0.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.1°).
A smaller shift than in 97% 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 Scranton compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Scranton’s place among Arkansas’.
Scranton weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Scranton’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Subiaco, AR. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 29° | 3.6" | 0.4" | 7 | 1 | 35° – 47° |
| February | 55° | 32° | 3.3" | 1.0" | 7 | 1 | 36° – 52° |
| March | 64° | 40° | 4.6" | 0.6" | 9 | 0 | 45° – 62° |
| April | 73° | 48° | 5.1" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 55° – 66° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 5.6" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 66° – 75° |
| June | 88° | 67° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 73° – 83° |
| July | 93° | 70° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 77° – 87° |
| August | 92° | 69° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 74° – 86° |
| September | 85° | 62° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 69° – 80° |
| October | 75° | 49° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 56° – 68° |
| November | 62° | 39° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 44° – 56° |
| December | 52° | 32° | 4.3" | 0.2" | 7 | 1 | 31° – 48° |
| Year | 72° | 49° | 51.3" | 2.2" | 92 | 2 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 31° to 48°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Where Scranton’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 Scranton’s center.
- Snow: Subiaco, AR.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Subiaco, AR, 7 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft higher; 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 Scranton’s climate
What is the weather like in Scranton?
A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 71% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 90% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Scranton in winter?
January nights average 29°. About 67 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 35°.
How much snow does Scranton get?
About 2.2 inches in a normal winter at Subiaco, AR, most of it in February, with snow on the ground about 2 days a year.
How hot does it get in Scranton?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 70°. About 62 days a year reach 90° and 7 reach 100° (Subiaco, AR).
When is the first and last frost in Scranton?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 28 and the first fall frost by November 5, about 223 frost-free days, at Subiaco, AR.
What growing zone is Scranton in?
Zone 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 11°.
What is the best time of year to visit Scranton?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Scranton getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 97% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Scranton.
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.