PlainClimate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 49°F annual avg Public-domain federal data

Columbus Junction, IA Climate

Average temperature, precipitation, and a comfort score, drawn from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →

49°F
Avg annual temp
59/100
Comfort score
38.8"
Annual precip
167d
Growing season

30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).

The climate verdict for Columbus Junction

Columbus Junction, Iowa averages 49°F a year and scores 59/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 39% of U.S. cities.

49°F
yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
59/100
comfort score, milder than 39% of U.S. cities
38.8"
annual precipitation · 31" snow
167 days
frost-free growing season

Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.

Avg Temperature

49°F (9°C)

Avg High

60°F

Avg Low

38°F

Annual Precip

38.8"

Annual Snow

31.3"

Comfort Score

59/100

Moderate

Climate Comfort Score

59/100

Moderate

Avg Annual Temperature

49°F

30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)

Annual Precipitation

38.8"

Plus 31.3" of snow

Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Columbus Junction) 59.0%
National median (63)

PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Columbus Junction area.

How Columbus Junction compares to every U.S. city

Columbus Junction's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities

PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals

59 Top 61% higher than 39% of 6,915 US cities

0–10: 0 US cities (0%). Below this entry. 10–20: 0 US cities (0%). Below this entry. 20–30: 58 US cities (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 439 US cities (6%). Below this entry. 40–50: 1,302 US cities (19%). Below this entry. 50–60: 1,433 US cities (21%). This entry sits in this band. 60–70: 1,357 US cities (20%). Above this entry. 70–80: 1,102 US cities (16%). Above this entry. 80–90: 778 US cities (11%). Above this entry. 90–100: 420 US cities (6%). Above this entry. This city 0 100 every U.S. city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020

Warming context for Columbus Junction

Methodology

The chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Columbus Junction, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.

Warming context, U.S. vs global, with Paris reference lines Anomaly chart from 1900 to 2024. Local series shows warming of 0.11 °C per decade versus a global rate of 0.11 °C per decade (ratio 1.00). Paris Agreement thresholds at 1.5 and 2.0 °C are dashed. -1.0°C -0.5°C +0.0°C +0.5°C +1.0°C +1.5°C +2.0°C +2.5°C Paris 1.5°C Paris 2.0°C 1900192019401960198020002020
  • United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Sources: NOAA NCEI, NASA GISTEMP. Paris thresholds per IPCC AR6 WG1.

Monthly Temperatures

Average daily high and low temperatures by month

Month Avg High Avg Low Mean
January 30°F (-1°C) 11°F (-12°C) 20°F (-6°C)
February 34°F (1°C) 14°F (-10°C) 24°F (-4°C)
March 48°F (9°C) 26°F (-3°C) 37°F (3°C)
April 62°F (16°C) 38°F (3°C) 50°F (10°C)
May 72°F (22°C) 50°F (10°C) 61°F (16°C)
June 80°F (27°C) 59°F (15°C) 70°F (21°C)
July 84°F (29°C) 63°F (17°C) 73°F (23°C)
August 82°F (28°C) 61°F (16°C) 72°F (22°C)
September 76°F (25°C) 52°F (11°C) 64°F (18°C)
October 63°F (17°C) 40°F (4°C) 51°F (11°C)
November 48°F (9°C) 27°F (-3°C) 38°F (3°C)
December 35°F (2°C) 17°F (-8°C) 26°F (-3°C)

Monthly Precipitation

Average monthly rainfall and snowfall

January 1.2"

Snow: 9.5"

8.1 days with precipitation

February 1.9"

Snow: 7.1"

7.0 days with precipitation

March 2.3"

Snow: 5.3"

9.0 days with precipitation

April 3.9"

Snow: 1.6"

10.5 days with precipitation

May 5.4"

12.0 days with precipitation

June 4.9"

10.2 days with precipitation

July 4.1"

9.0 days with precipitation

August 4.2"

9.1 days with precipitation

September 3.8"

7.6 days with precipitation

October 3.0"

Snow: 0.2"

8.0 days with precipitation

November 2.2"

Snow: 1.3"

7.9 days with precipitation

December 1.9"

Snow: 6.3"

6.8 days with precipitation

Frost Dates & Growing Season

First Fall Freeze

October 10

50% probability date

Last Spring Freeze

April 26

50% probability date

Growing Season

167 days

Heating & Cooling Degree Days

Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling

Heating Degree Days

6,661

Higher = more heating needed

Cooling Degree Days

790

Higher = more cooling needed

Warmest Month

July

Coldest Month

January

What Columbus Junction's climate means for you

Columbus Junction runs 49°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.

  • Gardeners get about 167 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 26 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
  • Energy bills track 6,661 heating and 790 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
  • Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings

These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.

Climate Guides

Climate Insight: Columbus Junction, IA

The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Columbus Junction, Iowa as a location with an annual average temperature of 49°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 60°F to a mean daily low of 38°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USC00131731, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.

Anyone planning to live, garden, or travel in Columbus Junction should weigh precipitation alongside temperature: the annual average runs 38.8 inches, with 31.3 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 167 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 26 and the first fall freeze near October 10. And on the energy front, 6,661 heating degree days and 790 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Columbus Junction scores 59/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. For planning purposes, look to the monthly tables above: shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows, summer brings July-driven heat, and deep winter brings January-driven cold. Treat every figure here as a thirty-year average rather than a forecast - individual years routinely run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average temperature in Columbus Junction, IA?
The average annual temperature in Columbus Junction, Iowa is 49°F. The warmest month averages 84°F (29°C) and the coldest averages 11°F (-12°C).
How much rain does Columbus Junction get?
Columbus Junction receives 38.8 inches of precipitation annually, including 31.3 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Columbus Junction?
Columbus Junction has a climate comfort score of 59/100 (Moderate), milder than 39% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Columbus Junction?
Columbus Junction has approximately 167 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 26 and the first fall freeze around October 10.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Columbus Junction?
Columbus Junction has 6,661 heating degree days and 790 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Columbus Junction climate data come from?
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00131731 near Columbus Junction.

Data Sources

Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00131731. For informational purposes only.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial

Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.