Monterey sits near the top of U.S. towns for precipitation, with 59 inches a year
Nights in January average 38°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 89% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.4°, most of all in March. For walks and days out, the stretch from February to April and October to November brings highs of 64–80°.
A year in Monterey at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Monterey’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Monterey’s place in Louisiana beside it.
What a year in Monterey feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 261 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 6 and the first by November 22. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Jonesville Locks, LA, 9 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Monterey’s center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 21°. 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 59 inches of rain a year
January is the wettest month and September the driest. Rain falls on about 93 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.1" in a normal year at Jonesville Locks, LA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Monterey
49% 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 Jonesville Locks, LA.
Living with Monterey’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
261 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Mar 6 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 22.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, October and November.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Monterey from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (27%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 14%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Monterey and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Monterey yet.
Climates most like Monterey’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey, LA | 38° | 92° | 59" | 0.1" |
| Magalia, CA | 38° | 92° | 61" | 0.1" |
| Laurel, MS | 36° | 92° | 60" | 0.0" |
| Enterprise, AL | 38° | 91° | 58" | 0.0" |
| Silsbee, TX | 40° | 92° | 61" | 0.1" |
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 Monterey averaged 0.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+0.9°).
A smaller shift than in all but 112 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 Monterey compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Monterey’s place among Louisiana’s.
Monterey weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Monterey’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Jonesville Locks, LA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 38° | 6.2" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 42° – 56° |
| February | 64° | 42° | 5.3" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 43° – 61° |
| March | 71° | 48° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 53° – 69° |
| April | 78° | 55° | 5.0" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| May | 85° | 63° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 70° – 77° |
| June | 90° | 70° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 78° – 84° |
| July | 92° | 72° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 80° – 86° |
| August | 93° | 72° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 78° – 87° |
| September | 89° | 66° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 75° – 82° |
| October | 80° | 55° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 63° – 74° |
| November | 69° | 46° | 5.1" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| December | 61° | 40° | 5.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 42° – 59° |
| Year | 77° | 55° | 58.5" | 0.1" | 93 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 43° to 61°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Monterey’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 Monterey’s center.
- Snow: Jonesville Locks, LA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Jonesville Locks, LA, 9 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 Monterey’s climate
What is the weather like in Monterey?
A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 86% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 89% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Monterey in winter?
January nights average 38°. About 27 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 42°.
How much snow does Monterey get?
About 0.1 inches in a normal winter at Jonesville Locks, LA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Monterey?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 72°. About 87 days a year reach 90° and 3 reach 100° (Jonesville Locks, LA).
When is the first and last frost in Monterey?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 6 and the first fall frost by November 22, about 261 frost-free days, at Jonesville Locks, LA.
What growing zone is Monterey in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 21°.
What is the best time of year to visit Monterey?
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 Monterey getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than all but 112 U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Monterey.
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.