Precipitation in Alford tops that of 75% of U.S. towns: 48 inches a year
Midwinter brings lows of about 23°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 63% of U.S. towns. December has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.0° rise. For walks and days out, April, May, September and October bring highs of 67–81°.
A year in Alford at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Alford’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Alford’s place in Indiana beside it.
What a year in Alford feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 186 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 20 and the first by October 22. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Petersburg 61 Brg, IN, 2.2 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Alford’s center in zone 6b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −1°. 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 9 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Washington 1 W, IN, falls mostly in January and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 48 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 Alford
83% 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 Petersburg 61 Brg, IN.
Living with Alford’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
186 frost-free days in zone 6b. The last frost comes by Apr 20 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 22.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, September and October.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Alford from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (40%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 7%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Alford and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Alford yet.
Climates most like Alford’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alford, IN | 23° | 87° | 48" | 9.2" |
| Paoli, PA | 23° | 87° | 48" | 7.6" |
| Hockessin, DE | 24° | 86° | 48" | 12" |
| Park Hills, MO | 22° | 87° | 46" | 8.7" |
| Mount Sterling, KY | 24° | 87° | 50" | 8.8" |
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 Alford averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.0°).
A smaller shift than in 77% 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 Alford compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Alford’s place among Indiana’s.
Alford weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Alford’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Washington 1 W, IN. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 23° | 3.5" | 2.9" | 8 | 4 | 24° – 42° |
| February | 45° | 26° | 3.0" | 2.0" | 6 | 3 | 24° – 45° |
| March | 55° | 34° | 4.1" | 1.0" | 9 | 1 | 37° – 58° |
| April | 67° | 44° | 5.0" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 49° – 60° |
| May | 76° | 54° | 5.4" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 59° – 73° |
| June | 84° | 63° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 69° – 78° |
| July | 87° | 66° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 71° – 83° |
| August | 86° | 64° | 3.2" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| September | 81° | 56° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| October | 69° | 45° | 3.4" | 0.1" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 62° |
| November | 55° | 35° | 3.9" | 0.1" | 7 | 0 | 38° – 51° |
| December | 44° | 27° | 3.7" | 3.1" | 7 | 2 | 22° – 45° |
| Year | 66° | 45° | 47.8" | 9.2" | 92 | 10 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 22° to 45°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Alford’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 Alford’s center.
- Snow: Washington 1 W, IN.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Petersburg 61 Brg, IN, 2.2 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 Alford’s climate
What is the weather like in Alford?
A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 55% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 63% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Alford in winter?
January nights average 23°. About 103 nights a year reach 32° or below and 2 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 24°.
How much snow does Alford get?
About 9.2 inches in a normal winter at Washington 1 W, IN, most of it in January and December, with snow on the ground about 10 days a year.
How hot does it get in Alford?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 66°. About 28 days a year reach 90° (Petersburg 61 Brg, IN).
When is the first and last frost in Alford?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 20 and the first fall frost by October 22, about 186 frost-free days, at Petersburg 61 Brg, IN.
What growing zone is Alford in?
Zone 6b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −1°.
What is the best time of year to visit Alford?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Alford getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 77% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Alford.
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.