Photo: Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0Colton sits near the bottom of U.S. towns for winter warmth
The warmest part of a July day comes in at 77° on average. Its July afternoons stay fresher than in 97% of U.S. towns. Warming shows here too: 2.0° more than in 1901–2000, led by December. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly May 18 to September 28.
A year in Colton at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Colton’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Colton’s place in New York beside it.
What a year in Colton feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 132 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 18 and the first by September 28. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Wanakena Rngr School, NY, 16 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Colton’s center in zone 4a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −26°. 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 45 inches of rain a year
October is the wettest month and February the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Colton
96% 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 Wanakena Rngr School, NY.
Living with Colton’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
132 frost-free days in zone 4a. 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 Sep 28.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 153 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Colton from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (79%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 10%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Colton and its neighbors
Clare the hottest July afternoons (79°, 1° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
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 Colton averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+4.3°).
A bigger shift than in 91% 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 Colton compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Colton’s place among New York’s.
Colton weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Colton’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 5° | 3.1" | 2° – 25° |
| February | 29° | 7° | 2.6" | 3° – 26° |
| March | 38° | 15° | 2.9" | 16° – 39° |
| April | 51° | 29° | 3.5" | 34° – 46° |
| May | 65° | 41° | 3.8" | 47° – 59° |
| June | 73° | 50° | 4.5" | 58° – 68° |
| July | 77° | 55° | 4.4" | 61° – 71° |
| August | 75° | 53° | 4.0" | 61° – 68° |
| September | 68° | 46° | 4.3" | 52° – 62° |
| October | 55° | 35° | 4.8" | 40° – 52° |
| November | 42° | 25° | 3.6" | 27° – 40° |
| December | 31° | 14° | 3.3" | 14° – 35° |
| Year | 53° | 31° | 44.8" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. January swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 2° to 25°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Colton’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 Colton’s center.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Wanakena Rngr School, NY, 16 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 Colton’s climate
What is the weather like in Colton?
A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 5°. Colder January nights than 98% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 97% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Colton in winter?
January nights average 5°. About 181 nights a year reach 32° or below and 38 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 2°.
How hot does it get in Colton?
July, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 55°. About 2 days a year reach 90° (Wanakena Rngr School, NY).
When is the first and last frost in Colton?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 18 and the first fall frost by September 28, about 132 frost-free days, at Wanakena Rngr School, NY.
What growing zone is Colton in?
Zone 4a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −26°.
What is the best time of year to visit Colton?
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 Colton getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 2.0° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 91% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Colton.
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.