Photo: Emmanuel2312 · CC BY-SA 4.0Summer arrives in force in McRae-Helena, hotter than in 90% of U.S. towns
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 38°. In January, nights here are milder than in 85% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.9°, most of all in December. Keep the boiler serviced for the months from January, which average under 50°.
A year in McRae-Helena at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about McRae-Helena’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with McRae-Helena’s place in Georgia beside it.
What a year in McRae-Helena feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 263 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 5 and the first by November 24. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Eastman 1 W, GA, 20 miles from the town’s center, 190 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts McRae-Helena’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 47 inches of rain a year
August is the wettest month and May the driest. Rain falls on about 119 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.1" in a normal year at Hazlehurst, GA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in McRae-Helena
47% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from December 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 Eastman 1 W, GA.
Living with McRae-Helena’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
263 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 5 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 24.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, October and November. 0.9 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in McRae-Helena from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (38%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 7%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →McRae-Helena and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around McRae-Helena yet.
Climates most like McRae-Helena’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McRae-Helena, GA | 38° | 93° | 47" | 0.1" |
| Rusk, TX | 38° | 93° | 49" | 0.1" |
| Orangeburg, SC | 35° | 92° | 47" | 0.1" |
| Shreveport, LA | 37° | 94° | 52" | 0.1" |
| Montgomery, AL | 36° | 92° | 52" | 0.3" |
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 McRae-Helena averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.9°).
A smaller shift than in 85% 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 McRae-Helena compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with McRae-Helena’s place among Georgia’s.
McRae-Helena weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at McRae-Helena’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Hazlehurst, GA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 60° | 38° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 43° – 56° |
| February | 64° | 41° | 4.0" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 45° – 62° |
| March | 71° | 46° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 52° – 67° |
| April | 78° | 53° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 61° – 70° |
| May | 86° | 61° | 2.7" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| June | 90° | 68° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| July | 93° | 72° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 79° – 85° |
| August | 92° | 71° | 5.4" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 78° – 85° |
| September | 87° | 66° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| October | 79° | 55° | 2.7" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 63° – 72° |
| November | 70° | 45° | 2.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 52° – 63° |
| December | 63° | 40° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 42° – 61° |
| Year | 78° | 55° | 47.4" | 0.1" | 119 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 42° to 61°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where McRae-Helena’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 McRae-Helena’s center.
- Snow: Hazlehurst, GA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Eastman 1 W, GA, 20 miles from the town’s center, 190 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 McRae-Helena’s climate
What is the weather like in McRae-Helena?
A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 85% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 90% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in McRae-Helena in winter?
January nights average 38°. About 31 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 43°.
How much snow does McRae-Helena get?
About 0.1 inches in a normal winter at Hazlehurst, GA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in McRae-Helena?
July, with a typical high of 93° and a low of 72°. About 76 days a year reach 90° and 2 reach 100° (Eastman 1 W, GA).
When is the first and last frost in McRae-Helena?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 5 and the first fall frost by November 24, about 263 frost-free days, at Eastman 1 W, GA.
What growing zone is McRae-Helena 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 McRae-Helena?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is McRae-Helena getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.9° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 85% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in McRae-Helena.
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.