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Chestnut Ridge (28775317652)Photo: hhm8 · CC BY 2.0
Climate in Fairfield Township · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Weather without surprises: Fairfield Township keeps close to the norm for U.S. towns

January mornings start at about 20°. By July afternoons alone, it runs cooler than 70% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.9°, most of all in December. Homes need heating from November to March, the months averaging under 50°.

Colder January nights than 60% of U.S. towns#322 coldest of 915 in PA
Cooler July afternoons than 70% of U.S. towns#225Coolest summers  of 915 in PA
All PA rankings →
July high
83°
Cooler than 70% of U.S. towns
225th coolest of 915 in Pennsylvania
January low
20°
Colder than 60% of U.S. towns
322nd coldest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Rain + melted snow
46"
Wetter than 67% of U.S. towns
366th wettest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Frost-free days
152
May 5 to Oct 6
Shorter than 91% of U.S. towns
90° days
11
Fewer than 71% of U.S. towns
295th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania

A year in Fairfield Township at a glance

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

Jan37°20°
Feb40°22°
Mar49°28°
Apr63°38°
May72°47° Last frost ~May 5
Jun79°56° 2 days 90°+Wettest
Jul83°60° 4 days 90°+
Aug81°59° 4 days 90°+
Sep75°52° 1 day 90°+
Oct64°41° First frost ~Oct 6
Nov now51°32°
Dec41°25°

What stands out about Fairfield Township’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Fairfield Township’s place in Pennsylvania beside it.

A shorter frost-free season than 91% of U.S. townsAbout 152 frost-free days, from May 5 to Oct 6 in half of years. 43rd shortest of 915 in Pennsylvania.Fewer 90° days than 71% of U.S. townsAbout 11 days a year reach 90°, most of them in July. 295th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania.Cooler July afternoons than 70% of U.S. townsJuly afternoons average 83°; about 11 days a year reach 90°. 225th coolest of 915 in Pennsylvania.Growing zone 6aThe 2023 USDA plant hardiness zone at Fairfield Township’s center: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −5°.
A normal year

What a year in Fairfield Township feels like

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

Winter
39° / 22°
Snow is rare
Spring
61° / 38°
Last frost around May 5
Summer
81° / 58°
11 days reach 90°
Fall
63° / 42°
First frost around Oct 6
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepOctHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 152 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 and the first by October 6. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Rector 3 Ssw, PA, 13 miles from the town’s center, 140 ft lower.

154
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
60th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
More freezing nights than 88% of U.S. towns
8
nights at or below 0°
67th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
More nights at or below 0° than 79% of U.S. towns
11
days that reach 90°
295th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Fewer 90° days than 71% of U.S. towns
0
days that reach 100°
None in a normal year
6aUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 6a

The 2023 USDA map puts Fairfield Township’s center in zone 6a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −5°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

27
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

4.2
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 46 inches of rain a year

June is the wettest month and February the driest.

46"
Rain + melted snow a year
366th wettest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Wetter than 67% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.7"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Fairfield Township

91% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.

5,960 heating degree daysMore heating than 65% of U.S. towns
595 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 78% 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 Rector 3 Ssw, PA.

Living here

Living with Fairfield Township’s climate

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

The garden window

152 frost-free days in zone 6a. 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 6.

Get outside

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

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Fairfield Township from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (92%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Fairfield Township and its neighbors

St. Clair Township has the coldest January nights next door (16°, 3° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Unity Township: January low 21°, July high 83°Latrobe: January low 21°, July high 84°Conemaugh Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Salem Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Loyalhanna Township: January low 21°, July high 84°Black Lick Township: January low 20°, July high 84°New Alexandria: January low 21°, July high 84°Brush Valley Township: January low 19°, July high 82°East Wheatfield Township: January low 19°, July high 83°Center Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Elim: January low 19°, July high 83°Southmont: January low 19°, July high 83°Johnstown: January low 19°, July high 83°Ferndale: January low 19°, July high 83°Westmont: January low 19°, July high 83°Stonycreek Township: January low 18°, July high 80°Riverside: January low 19°, July high 83°Quemahoning Township: January low 17°, July high 81°Lincoln Township: January low 18°, July high 80°Jerome: January low 18°, July high 82°Acosta: January low 17°, July high 80°Paint Township: January low 18°, July high 81°Richland Township: January low 18°, July high 81°Benson: January low 18°, July high 82°Belmont: January low 19°, July high 83°Cook Township: January low 20°, July high 83°West Taylor Township: January low 17°, July high 79°Westwood: January low 19°, July high 83°Brownstown: January low 19°, July high 83°Derry Township: January low 21°, July high 83°West Wheatfield Township: January low 19°, July high 81°Upper Yoder Township: January low 18°, July high 81°Jenner Township: January low 18°, July high 81°Conemaugh Township: January low 18°, July high 82°Bolivar: January low 20°, July high 83°Ligonier Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Robinson: January low 20°, July high 83°Burrell Township: January low 20°, July high 84°St. Clair Township: January low 16°, July high 77°Lower Yoder Township: January low 17°, July high 79°Fairfield Township: January low 20°, July high 83°Fairfield TownshipDerry TownshipWest Wheatfield TownshipUpper Yoder TownshipJenner TownshipConemaugh TownshipBolivarLigonier TownshipRobinsonBurrell TownshipSt. Clair TownshipLower Yoder Township
ColderMilder16° to 21°
St. Clair Township16.4° −3.4°
Lower Yoder Township17.3° −2.5°
Jenner Township17.8° −2.0°
Conemaugh Township18.2° −1.6°
Upper Yoder Township18.4° −1.4°
West Wheatfield Township18.9° about the same
Fairfield Township19.8°
Bolivar20.0° about the same
Robinson20.0° about the same
Ligonier Township20.1° about the same
Burrell Township20.3° about the same
Derry Township20.6° 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 Fairfield Township averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.2°).

+0.9°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A smaller shift than in 86% of U.S. towns.

Winter+1.6°now 31°, was 29°
Spring+1.0°now 49°, was 48°
Summer+0.3°now 70°, was 69°
Fall+0.6°now 52°, was 52°

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 Fairfield Township compares

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

Summer heat83° July high
Cooler July afternoons than 70% of U.S. towns225th coolest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Winter cold20° January low
Colder January nights than 60% of U.S. towns322nd coldest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Precipitation46" a year
Wetter than 67% of U.S. towns366th wettest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Hot days11 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than 71% of U.S. towns295th fewest of 915 in Pennsylvania
Freezing nights154 a year
More freezing nights than 88% of U.S. towns60th most of 915 in Pennsylvania
Growing season152 frost-free days
A shorter frost-free season than 91% of U.S. towns43rd shortest of 915 in Pennsylvania
#225Coolest summers  of 915 in PAAll PA rankings →
Month by month

Fairfield Township weather by month

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

MonthHighLowRain + melt30-yr range
January37°20°3.5"20° – 37°
February40°22°3.0"18° – 40°
March49°28°3.8"32° – 50°
April63°38°4.1"45° – 56°
May72°47°4.3"53° – 67°
June79°56°4.7"64° – 70°
July83°60°4.6"67° – 76°
August81°59°4.1"66° – 74°
September75°52°3.9"60° – 68°
October64°41°3.4"48° – 58°
November51°32°3.4"35° – 48°
December41°25°3.7"23° – 44°
Year61°40°46.4"
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 18° to 40°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Fairfield Township’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 Fairfield Township’s center.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Rector 3 Ssw, PA, 13 miles from the town’s center, 140 ft lower; 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 Fairfield Township’s climate

What is the weather like in Fairfield Township?

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 20°. Colder January nights than 60% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 70% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Fairfield Township in winter?

January nights average 20°. About 154 nights a year reach 32° or below and 8 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 20°.

How hot does it get in Fairfield Township?

July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 60°. About 11 days a year reach 90° (Rector 3 Ssw, PA).

When is the first and last frost in Fairfield Township?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 5 and the first fall frost by October 6, about 152 frost-free days, at Rector 3 Ssw, PA.

What growing zone is Fairfield Township in?

Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −5°.

What is the best time of year to visit Fairfield Township?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Fairfield Township 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 Fairfield Township.

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.