Rochester, MA Climate

Climate Insight: Rochester, MA

An annual average temperature of 51°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 60°F to a mean daily low of 41°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Rochester, Massachusetts. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from station USC00196938 and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Rochester receives roughly 53.4 inches of precipitation each year, with 30.8 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 181 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 23 and the first fall freeze near October 21. For energy use, 5,870 heating degree days and 630 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Rochester scores 53/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.