Hardly any U.S. towns see harsher January nights than North Anson
High summer brings afternoon highs near 79°. October is the wettest month, February the driest. Its July afternoons stay fresher than in 95% of U.S. towns. The outdoor season runs from May to September, with highs of 65–79°.
A year in North Anson at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about North Anson’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with North Anson’s place in Maine beside it.
What a year in North Anson feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 149 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 8 and the first by October 5. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Madison, ME, 5 miles from the town’s center, 110 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts North Anson’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −18°. 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 74 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Madison, ME, is heaviest from January through February, about 19 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 44 inches a year; October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 124 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in North Anson
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Madison, ME.
Living with North Anson’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
149 frost-free days in zone 5a. The last frost comes by May 8 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 5.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 1.4 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in North Anson from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (35%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 35%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →North Anson and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around North Anson yet.
Climates most like North Anson’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Anson, ME | 8° | 79° | 44" | 74" |
| Fairfax, VT | 9° | 80° | 43" | 80" |
| Newport, NH | 10° | 81° | 44" | 66" |
| Hamilton, NY | 13° | 79° | 45" | 77" |
| Dalton, MA | 13° | 80° | 48" | 77" |
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 North Anson averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+4.1°).
A bigger shift than in 53% 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 North Anson compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with North Anson’s place among Maine’s.
North Anson weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at North Anson’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Madison, ME. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 8° | 3.1" | 18.6" | 10 | 6° – 25° |
| February | 30° | 9° | 2.5" | 19.2" | 8 | 6° – 27° |
| March | 39° | 19° | 3.1" | 12.6" | 9 | 19° – 37° |
| April | 52° | 30° | 3.7" | 4.1" | 10 | 38° – 46° |
| May | 65° | 41° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 11 | 48° – 58° |
| June | 74° | 51° | 4.4" | 0.0" | 12 | 59° – 66° |
| July | 79° | 57° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 11 | 63° – 71° |
| August | 78° | 55° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 64° – 69° |
| September | 70° | 47° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 54° – 63° |
| October | 57° | 37° | 4.9" | 0.2" | 11 | 42° – 53° |
| November | 44° | 28° | 4.0" | 3.4" | 10 | 30° – 40° |
| December | 33° | 17° | 3.9" | 15.9" | 11 | 18° – 32° |
| Year | 54° | 33° | 44.3" | 74.0" | 124 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 6° to 27°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where North Anson’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 North Anson’s center.
- Snow: Madison, ME.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Madison, ME, 5 miles from the town’s center, 110 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 North Anson’s climate
What is the weather like in North Anson?
A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 74 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 96% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 95% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in North Anson in winter?
January nights average 8°. About 172 nights a year reach 32° or below and 28 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 6°.
How much snow does North Anson get?
About 74 inches in a normal winter at Madison, ME, heaviest from January through February, about 19 inches a month.
How hot does it get in North Anson?
July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 57°. About 3 days a year reach 90° (Madison, ME).
When is the first and last frost in North Anson?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 8 and the first fall frost by October 5, about 149 frost-free days, at Madison, ME.
What growing zone is North Anson in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −18°.
What is the best time of year to visit North Anson?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is North Anson getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 53% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in North Anson.
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.