Few U.S. towns get more rain and snow than Washington: 63 inches a year
July afternoons average 87°. The seasons are far apart: from a winter night to a summer afternoon the average spans 58°. In January, nights here are milder than in 73% of U.S. towns. The heating season runs November to April: each of those months averages under 50°.
A year in Washington at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Washington’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Washington’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Washington 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 April 14 and the first by November 20. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Nevada City, CA, 14 miles from the town’s center, 100 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Washington’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 19°. 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 26 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Downieville, CA, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 63 inches a year; December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 83 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Washington
83% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Nevada City, CA.
Living with Washington’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 Apr 14 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 20.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June and September. 1.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Washington from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (50%). Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Washington and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Washington yet.
Climates most like Washington’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, CA | 30° | 87° | 63" | 26" |
| Crossville, TN | 27° | 84° | 59" | 14" |
| Monticello, KY | 26° | 86° | 54" | 14" |
| Marion, NC | 28° | 88° | 58" | 7.1" |
| Fort Payne, AL | 31° | 86° | 60" | 5.0" |
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 Washington averaged 0.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in September (+1.7°).
A smaller shift than in 92% 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 Washington compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Washington’s place among California’s.
Washington weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Washington’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Downieville, CA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 30° | 10.7" | 6.4" | 13 | 6 | 34° – 47° |
| February | 52° | 31° | 10.3" | 7.9" | 12 | 4 | 32° – 50° |
| March | 56° | 33° | 9.4" | 4.2" | 11 | 3 | 35° – 52° |
| April | 61° | 35° | 5.5" | 1.2" | 9 | 0 | 41° – 53° |
| May | 70° | 42° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 8 | 0 | 46° – 64° |
| June | 79° | 48° | 1.0" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| July | 87° | 54° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 87° | 52° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 66° – 73° |
| September | 81° | 47° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| October | 70° | 40° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 5 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| November | 56° | 34° | 6.6" | 1.2" | 9 | 1 | 35° – 51° |
| December | 47° | 29° | 11.5" | 5.1" | 12 | 4 | 34° – 44° |
| Year | 66° | 39° | 62.5" | 26.2" | 83 | 18 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 32° to 50°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Washington’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 Washington’s center.
- Snow: Downieville, CA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Nevada City, CA, 14 miles from the town’s center, 100 ft lower; 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 Washington’s climate
What is the weather like in Washington?
A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 73% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 62% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Washington in winter?
December nights average 29°. About 49 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 34°.
How much snow does Washington get?
About 26 inches in a normal winter at Downieville, CA, most of it in February, with snow on the ground about 18 days a year.
How hot does it get in Washington?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 54°. About 30 days a year reach 90° (Nevada City, CA).
When is the first and last frost in Washington?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 14 and the first fall frost by November 20, about 218 frost-free days, at Nevada City, CA.
What growing zone is Washington in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 19°.
What is the best time of year to visit Washington?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Washington getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 92% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Washington.
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.