Climate Comfort Score
64/100
Good
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 48°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Dunkirk, NY Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 48°F
- Avg annual temp
- 64/100
- Comfort score
- 46.8"
- Annual precip
- 176d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Dunkirk
Dunkirk, New York averages 48°F a year and scores 64/100 on the comfort index - good, milder than 51% of U.S. cities.
- 48°F
- annual average temperature (NOAA normal)
- 64/100
- comfort score, milder than 51% of U.S. cities
- 46.8"
- yearly precipitation total
- 176 days
- frost-free days per growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
48°F (9°C)
Avg High
57°F
Avg Low
39°F
Annual Precip
46.8"
Comfort Score
64/100
Good
Avg Annual Temperature
48°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
46.8"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Dunkirk) 64.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Dunkirk area.
How Dunkirk compares to every U.S. city
Dunkirk's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
64 Top 49% higher than 51% of 6,915 US cities
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 Dunkirk
MethodologySince 1900, U.S. land temperatures have tracked (and diverged from) the global mean - the chart below shows how. Dunkirk's current NOAA 1991-2020 normal sits within that longer spread, and the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean.
- 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
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33°F (0°C) | 17°F (-8°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 3.4" | 27.8 | 0.0 |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 17°F (-8°C) | 26°F (-4°C) | 2.6" | 23.8 | 0.0 |
| March | 42°F (6°C) | 24°F (-4°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.0" | 22.5 | 0.0 |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.8" | 13.2 | 0.0 |
| May | 67°F (20°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 4.0" | 1.6 | 0.4 |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 67°F (19°C) | 4.2" | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 71°F (22°C) | 4.6" | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.9" | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| September | 73°F (23°C) | 53°F (11°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.4" | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 44°F (6°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.8" | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| November | 49°F (9°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1" | 12.5 | 0.0 |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 26°F (-3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 4.2" | 22.5 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall
January 3.4"
February 2.6"
March 3.0"
April 3.8"
May 4.0"
June 4.2"
July 4.6"
August 3.9"
September 4.4"
October 4.8"
November 4.1"
December 4.2"
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 23
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
April 30
50% probability date
Growing Season
176 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
6,555
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
526
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Dunkirk's climate means for you
Dunkirk runs 48°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 176 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near April 30 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 6,555 heating and 526 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: Dunkirk, NY
An annual average temperature of 48°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 57°F to a mean daily low of 39°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Dunkirk, New York. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from station USC00302197 and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.
Rainfall (and snow, where it falls) shapes day-to-day life here as much as temperature does. Dunkirk sees about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year, predominantly as rainfall. The frost-free season averages 176 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 30 and the first fall freeze near October 23. On the energy side, 6,555 heating degree days and 526 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Dunkirk scores 64/100 (Good), 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 Dunkirk, NY? ▼
The average annual temperature in Dunkirk, New York is 48°F. The warmest month averages 80°F (27°C) and the coldest averages 17°F (-8°C).
How much rain does Dunkirk get? ▼
Dunkirk receives 46.8 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Dunkirk? ▼
Dunkirk has a climate comfort score of 64/100 (Good), milder than 51% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Dunkirk? ▼
Dunkirk has approximately 176 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around April 30 and the first fall freeze around October 23.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Dunkirk? ▼
Dunkirk has 6,555 heating degree days and 526 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 Dunkirk climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00302197 near Dunkirk.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00302197. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
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.