Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWet weather: 48 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Ferrum, more than in 76% of U.S. towns
Expect July afternoons of about 86°. In January, nights here are milder than in 67% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.3°, most of all in February. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly April 20 to October 25.
A year in Ferrum at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Ferrum’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Ferrum’s place in Virginia beside it.
What a year in Ferrum feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 188 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 20 and the first by October 25. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Rocky Mt, VA, 6 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Ferrum’s center in zone 7b: 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°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 13 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Rocky Mt, VA, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 48 inches a year; September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 126 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Ferrum
80% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Rocky Mt, VA.
Living with Ferrum’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
188 frost-free days in zone 7b. The last frost comes by Apr 20 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 25.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, June, September and October. 4.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Ferrum from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (66%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 6%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Ferrum and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Ferrum yet.
Climates most like Ferrum’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrum, VA | 27° | 86° | 48" | 13" |
| Claymont, DE | 25° | 87° | 47" | 12" |
| Bridgeton, NJ | 25° | 87° | 46" | 12" |
| Harrodsburg, KY | 25° | 86° | 50" | 15" |
| Jefferson City, TN | 28° | 87° | 49" | 10" |
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 Ferrum averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 52% 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 Ferrum compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Ferrum’s place among Virginia’s.
Ferrum weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Ferrum’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Rocky Mt, VA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 27° | 3.7" | 3.6" | 10 | 4 | 30° – 43° |
| February | 51° | 29° | 3.0" | 4.9" | 9 | 3 | 32° – 47° |
| March | 59° | 35° | 4.0" | 2.5" | 10 | 1 | 41° – 55° |
| April | 69° | 43° | 4.0" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| May | 76° | 52° | 4.6" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| June | 83° | 61° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 67° – 76° |
| July | 86° | 65° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 72° – 79° |
| August | 85° | 64° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 70° – 79° |
| September | 79° | 57° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 64° – 73° |
| October | 69° | 45° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 54° – 61° |
| November | 59° | 35° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 41° – 52° |
| December | 50° | 30° | 3.8" | 1.4" | 10 | 2 | 31° – 49° |
| Year | 68° | 45° | 48.0" | 12.6" | 126 | 10 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 31° to 49°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Ferrum’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 Ferrum’s center.
- Snow: Rocky Mt, VA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Rocky Mt, VA, 6 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 Ferrum’s climate
What is the weather like in Ferrum?
A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 13 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 67% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 58% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Ferrum in winter?
January nights average 27°. About 104 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 30°.
How much snow does Ferrum get?
About 13 inches in a normal winter at Rocky Mt, VA, most of it in February, with snow on the ground about 10 days a year.
How hot does it get in Ferrum?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 65°. About 26 days a year reach 90° (Rocky Mt, VA).
When is the first and last frost in Ferrum?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 20 and the first fall frost by October 25, about 188 frost-free days, at Rocky Mt, VA.
What growing zone is Ferrum in?
Zone 7b 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 Ferrum?
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 Ferrum getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 52% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Ferrum.
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.