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Climate in Ilion · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Ilion’s winters are colder than most of the U.S.; July afternoons average 83°

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°.

Colder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns#127 coldest of 875 in NY
Cooler July afternoons than 72% of U.S. towns#595Coolest summers  of 875 in NY
All NY rankings →

A year in Ilion at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan31°13°
Feb34°14°
Mar42°23°
Apr57°34°
May70°45° Last frost ~May 5
Jun79°55° 1 day 90°+Wettest
Jul83°59° 2 days 90°+
Aug81°58° 2 days 90°+
Sep74°51° 1 day 90°+
Oct60°40° First frost ~Oct 4
Nov now47°31°
Dec36°21°

What stands out about Ilion’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Ilion’s place in New York beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Ilion feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
34° / 16°
Snow is rare
Spring
56° / 34°
Last frost around May 5
Summer
81° / 57°
5 days reach 90°
Fall
60° / 40°
First frost around Oct 4
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 151 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 and the first by October 4. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Little Falls City Rsch, NY, 9 miles from the town’s center, 410 ft higher.

164
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
66th most of 875 in New York
More freezing nights than 93% of U.S. towns
15
nights at or below 0°
128th most of 875 in New York
More nights at or below 0° than 91% of U.S. towns
5
days that reach 90°
264th fewest of 875 in New York
Fewer 90° days than 89% of U.S. towns
0
days that reach 100°
None in a normal year
5bUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 5b

The 2023 USDA map puts Ilion’s center in zone 5b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −12°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

30
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

1.7
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 43 inches of rain a year

June is the wettest month and February the driest.

43"
Rain + melted snow a year
477th wettest of 875 in New York
Wetter than 51% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.5"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Ilion

95% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.

7,470 heating degree daysMore heating than 92% of U.S. towns
410 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 90% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Little Falls City Rsch, NY.

Living here

Living with Ilion’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

151 frost-free days in zone 5b. The last frost comes by May 5 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 4.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 4.6 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Ilion from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (89%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 4%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Ilion and its neighbors

Frankfort has the coldest January nights next door (12°, 1° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Columbia: January low 11°, July high 78°Herkimer: January low 13°, July high 83°Little Falls: January low 13°, July high 82°Warren: January low 11°, July high 78°Fairfield: January low 11°, July high 80°Schuyler: January low 13°, July high 82°Newport: January low 11°, July high 81°Frankfort: January low 13°, July high 83°Utica: January low 13°, July high 82°Litchfield: January low 11°, July high 78°New Hartford: January low 13°, July high 81°German Flatts: January low 12°, July high 81°Herkimer: January low 12°, July high 81°Mohawk: January low 13°, July high 83°Frankfort: January low 12°, July high 79°Ilion: January low 13°, July high 83°IlionGerman FlattsHerkimerMohawkFrankfort
ColderMilder11° to 13°
Frankfort11.6° −1.2°
Herkimer12.1° about the same
German Flatts12.4° about the same
Ilion12.8°
Mohawk12.8° about the same

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.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Ilion averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°).

+1.1°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 71% of U.S. towns.

Winter+2.2°now 25°, was 23°
Spring+0.6°now 45°, was 45°
Summer+0.6°now 69°, was 68°
Fall+1.0°now 50°, was 49°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Ilion compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Ilion’s place among New York’s.

Summer heat83° July high
Cooler July afternoons than 72% of U.S. towns595th coolest of 875 in New York
Winter cold13° January low
Colder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns127th coldest of 875 in New York
Precipitation43" a year
Wetter than 51% of U.S. towns477th wettest of 875 in New York
Hot days5 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than 89% of U.S. towns264th fewest of 875 in New York
Freezing nights164 a year
More freezing nights than 93% of U.S. towns66th most of 875 in New York
Growing season151 frost-free days
A shorter frost-free season than 91% of U.S. towns139th shortest of 875 in New York
Month by month

Ilion weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Ilion’s center. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + melt30-yr range
January31°13°2.7"11° – 30°
February34°14°2.4"10° – 30°
March42°23°3.1"25° – 45°
April57°34°3.6"38° – 51°
May70°45°3.7"52° – 63°
June79°55°4.5"64° – 73°
July83°59°4.3"67° – 74°
August81°58°4.2"65° – 73°
September74°51°3.7"59° – 67°
October60°40°4.1"45° – 56°
November47°31°3.2"33° – 45°
December36°21°3.2"21° – 40°
Year58°37°42.7"
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 10° to 30°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Ilion’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 Ilion’s center.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Little Falls City Rsch, NY, 9 miles from the town’s center, 410 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 Ilion’s climate

What is the weather like in Ilion?

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°. Colder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 72% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Ilion in winter?

January nights average 13°. About 164 nights a year reach 32° or below and 15 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 11°.

How hot does it get in Ilion?

July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 59°. About 5 days a year reach 90° (Little Falls City Rsch, NY).

When is the first and last frost in Ilion?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 5 and the first fall frost by October 4, about 151 frost-free days, at Little Falls City Rsch, NY.

What growing zone is Ilion in?

Zone 5b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −12°.

What is the best time of year to visit Ilion?

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 Ilion getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.1° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 71% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Ilion.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.