Photo: Original uploader was Vidor at en.wikipedia · Public domainDry weather: only 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Austin, less than in 94% of U.S. towns
Midsummer highs settle at about 83°. By July afternoons alone, it runs cooler than 71% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.8°, most of all in January. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly May 18 to October 7.
A year in Austin at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Austin’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Austin’s place in Nevada beside it.
What a year in Austin feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 142 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 18 and the first by October 7. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Austin #2, NV, 0.4 miles from the town’s center, 360 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts Austin’s center in zone 7a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 0°. 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 64 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Austin #2, NV, is heaviest from February through March, about 12 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 14 inches a year; April is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 49 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Austin
91% 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 Austin #2, NV.
Living with Austin’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
142 frost-free days in zone 7a. The last frost comes by May 18 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 7.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 7.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Austin from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (37%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 5%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Austin and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Austin yet.
Climates most like Austin’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, NV | 22° | 83° | 14" | 64" |
| Evergreen, MT | 18° | 82° | 15" | 54" |
| Ranchettes, WY | 16° | 85° | 16" | 65" |
| Airway Heights, WA | 24° | 84° | 17" | 45" |
| Klamath Falls, OR | 22° | 86° | 14" | 52" |
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 Austin averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.6°).
A bigger shift than in 78% 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 Austin compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Austin’s place among Nevada’s.
Austin weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Austin’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Austin #2, NV. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 22° | 1.4" | 10.4" | 6 | 24° – 39° |
| February | 42° | 23° | 1.4" | 12.9" | 5 | 27° – 40° |
| March | 48° | 26° | 1.6" | 11.8" | 6 | 29° – 44° |
| April | 53° | 30° | 1.8" | 8.4" | 6 | 35° – 48° |
| May | 63° | 37° | 1.8" | 2.6" | 6 | 42° – 57° |
| June | 74° | 46° | 0.7" | 0.9" | 3 | 53° – 66° |
| July | 83° | 55° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 2 | 63° – 72° |
| August | 81° | 53° | 0.5" | 0.0" | 2 | 64° – 71° |
| September | 73° | 46° | 0.7" | 0.3" | 2 | 56° – 63° |
| October | 60° | 36° | 0.9" | 0.8" | 2 | 42° – 54° |
| November | 48° | 26° | 1.1" | 6.8" | 4 | 26° – 43° |
| December | 39° | 20° | 1.6" | 8.7" | 5 | 24° – 36° |
| Year | 59° | 35° | 13.8" | 63.6" | 49 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 26° to 43°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Austin’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 Austin’s center.
- Snow: Austin #2, NV (NOAA station in town).
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Austin #2, NV, 0.4 miles from the town’s center, 360 ft higher; 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 Austin’s climate
What is the weather like in Austin?
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 64 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 52% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 71% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Austin in winter?
December nights average 20°. About 148 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 24°.
How much snow does Austin get?
About 64 inches in a normal winter at Austin #2, NV, heaviest from February through March, about 12 inches a month.
How hot does it get in Austin?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 55°. About 20 days a year reach 90° (Austin #2, NV).
When is the first and last frost in Austin?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 18 and the first fall frost by October 7, about 142 frost-free days, at Austin #2, NV.
What growing zone is Austin in?
Zone 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 0°.
What is the best time of year to visit Austin?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Austin getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.8° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 78% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Austin.
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.