More precipitation falls on Rutgers University-Busch Campus than on 76% of U.S. towns: 48 inches a year
The coldest hours of a January night bottom out at 23° on average. By July afternoons alone, it runs hotter than 61% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 2.3°, most of all in December. Long walks are most pleasant from April to June and September to October, when afternoons reach 64–82°.
A year in Rutgers University-Busch Campus at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ place in New Jersey beside it.
What a year in Rutgers University-Busch Campus feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 193 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 15 and the first by October 26. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, 4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ center in zone 7a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 4°. 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 29 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 48 inches a year; July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 125 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Rutgers University-Busch Campus
83% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ.
Living with Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
193 frost-free days in zone 7a. The last frost comes by Apr 15 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 26.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, June, September and October. 3.7 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Rutgers University-Busch Campus from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (35%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 25%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Rutgers University-Busch Campus and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Rutgers University-Busch Campus in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Rutgers University-Busch Campus’, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-Busch Campus, NJ | 23° | 87° | 48" | 29" |
| Ellicott City, MD | 24° | 87° | 47" | 29" |
| Charleston, WV | 25° | 87° | 46" | 32" |
| Gettysburg, PA | 22° | 87° | 45" | 27" |
| Walton, KY | 23° | 86° | 47" | 23" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Rutgers University-Busch Campus averaged 2.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.8°).
A bigger shift than in 97% 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ place among New Jersey’s.
Rutgers University-Busch Campus weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 23° | 3.5" | 8.3" | 11 | 9 | 23° – 39° |
| February | 43° | 25° | 2.9" | 9.3" | 10 | 10 | 22° – 40° |
| March | 51° | 31° | 4.2" | 5.2" | 11 | 5 | 35° – 50° |
| April | 64° | 40° | 3.7" | 0.6" | 12 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| May | 73° | 50° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 57° – 67° |
| June | 82° | 59° | 4.4" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 67° – 74° |
| July | 87° | 65° | 5.0" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| August | 85° | 63° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| September | 78° | 56° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| October | 66° | 44° | 4.2" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| November | 55° | 35° | 3.3" | 0.5" | 9 | 0 | 40° – 50° |
| December | 45° | 28° | 4.3" | 4.9" | 10 | 4 | 30° – 48° |
| Year | 64° | 43° | 48.1" | 29.0" | 125 | 27 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 30° to 48°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ center.
- Snow: New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, 4 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 Rutgers University-Busch Campus’ climate
What is the weather like in Rutgers University-Busch Campus?
A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 29 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 55% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 61% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Rutgers University-Busch Campus in winter?
January nights average 23°. About 111 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 23°.
How much snow does Rutgers University-Busch Campus get?
About 29 inches in a normal winter at New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ, most of it in February, with snow on the ground about 27 days a year.
How hot does it get in Rutgers University-Busch Campus?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 65°. About 24 days a year reach 90° (New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ).
When is the first and last frost in Rutgers University-Busch Campus?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 15 and the first fall frost by October 26, about 193 frost-free days, at New Brunswick 3 Se, NJ.
What growing zone is Rutgers University-Busch Campus in?
Zone 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 4°.
What is the best time of year to visit Rutgers University-Busch Campus?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, June, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Rutgers University-Busch Campus getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 2.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 97% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Rutgers University-Busch Campus.
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.