Afternoon heat in Richfield beats that of 74% of U.S. towns
On a normal January night the air cools to about 31°. In January, nights here are milder than in 73% of U.S. towns. December has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 0.9° rise. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about March 29, with the first autumn frost due around November 4.
A year in Richfield at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Richfield’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Richfield’s place in North Carolina beside it.
What a year in Richfield feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 220 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 29 and the first by November 4. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Albemarle, NC, 6 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Richfield’s center in zone 8a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 11°. 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 46 inches of rain a year
July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain falls on about 87 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.8" in a normal year at Albemarle, NC, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Richfield
67% 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 Albemarle, NC.
Living with Richfield’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
220 frost-free days in zone 8a. The last frost comes by Mar 29 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 4.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, September and October. 0.7 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Richfield from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (60%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 10%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Richfield and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Richfield yet.
Climates most like Richfield’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richfield, NC | 31° | 89° | 46" | 0.8" |
| Emporia, VA | 29° | 90° | 48" | 1.4" |
| Rockmart, GA | 32° | 90° | 50" | 0.7" |
| Anderson, SC | 33° | 90° | 48" | 0.9" |
| Walnut Ridge, AR | 28° | 90° | 49" | 0.9" |
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 Richfield averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 86% 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 Richfield compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Richfield’s place among North Carolina’s.
Richfield weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Richfield’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Albemarle, NC. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 31° | 3.8" | 0.4" | 8 | 36° – 47° |
| February | 55° | 33° | 3.1" | 0.0" | 7 | 35° – 52° |
| March | 63° | 39° | 3.9" | 0.4" | 8 | 45° – 61° |
| April | 72° | 48° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 55° – 64° |
| May | 80° | 56° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 7 | 63° – 73° |
| June | 86° | 64° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 8 | 71° – 79° |
| July | 89° | 68° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 8 | 75° – 82° |
| August | 87° | 67° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 74° – 83° |
| September | 82° | 61° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 6 | 67° – 76° |
| October | 72° | 49° | 3.4" | 0.0" | 6 | 57° – 65° |
| November | 62° | 39° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 6 | 45° – 56° |
| December | 54° | 33° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 8 | 34° – 54° |
| Year | 71° | 49° | 46.2" | 0.8" | 87 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 34° to 54°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Richfield’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 Richfield’s center.
- Snow: Albemarle, NC.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Albemarle, NC, 6 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 Richfield’s climate
What is the weather like in Richfield?
A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 31°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 73% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 74% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Richfield in winter?
January nights average 31°. About 66 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 36°.
How much snow does Richfield get?
About 0.8 inches in a normal winter at Albemarle, NC, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Richfield?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 68°. About 39 days a year reach 90° (Albemarle, NC).
When is the first and last frost in Richfield?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 29 and the first fall frost by November 4, about 220 frost-free days, at Albemarle, NC.
What growing zone is Richfield in?
Zone 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 11°.
What is the best time of year to visit Richfield?
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 Richfield getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.9° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 86% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Richfield.
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.