State guides · Pennsylvania · Climate by town
Altoona, PA rainfall, snowfall and frost dates
Thirty-year averages for Altoona from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals: rain and snow by month, the last and first freeze, the growing season, and a frost check for any date.
Altoona averages 44.72 in. of precipitation and 38.1 in. of snow a year. The median last spring freeze (32°F) is April 25 and the median first fall freeze is Oct. 21, a growing season of about 176 days. From NOAA’s Altoona 3 W station; checked Nov. 13, 2026.
Is it safe to plant in Altoona yet?
Dates from January through July check the last spring freeze. Dates from August on check the first fall freeze.
From NOAA’s freeze probabilities for this station. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring and earlier in fall than the station.
Altoona frost dates
| 32°F freeze | 9 in 10 years | 1 in 2 years | 1 in 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring freeze comes after | April 10 | April 25 | May 11 |
| First fall freeze comes before | Nov. 5 | Oct. 21 | Oct. 5 |
Hard freeze (28°F): the median last one in spring is April 13 and the median first one in fall is Nov. 3. The growing season between the median 32°F freezes, April 25 to Oct. 21, runs about 176 days.
Planting tender plants after May 11 means a freeze afterward in only about 1 year in 10. Planting on April 25 leaves even odds. For lawn seeding windows, see our Pennsylvania grass seed guide.
Altoona rain and snow by month
| Month | Precipitation (in.) | Snow (in.) | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.94 | 10.1 | 33.8 | 18.8 |
| February | 2.65 | 11.0 | 37.1 | 20.4 |
| March | 3.49 | 7.6 | 46.0 | 27.8 |
| April | 3.78 | 0.6 | 59.6 | 38.5 |
| May | 4.41 | 0.0 | 69.5 | 48.6 |
| June | 4.24 | 0.0 | 77.3 | 57.0 |
| July | 4.18 | 0.0 | 81.4 | 61.3 |
| August | 3.86 | 0.0 | 79.8 | 60.0 |
| September | 4.33 | 0.0 | 72.6 | 53.2 |
| October | 3.84 | 0.0 | 61.3 | 42.0 |
| November | 3.63 | 1.2 | 48.8 | 32.6 |
| December | 3.37 | 7.6 | 38.1 | 24.3 |
| Year | 44.72 | 38.1 | Average 49.6°F | |
Precipitation is rain plus the water in melted snow and ice. Snow is the depth of new snowfall. Monthly figures are NOAA’s normals and may not add exactly to the yearly totals because of rounding.
- Wettest month: May, 4.41 in. Driest: February, 2.65 in.
- Snowiest month: February, 11.0 in. Months averaging 1 in. or more: November through March. December through February bring about 75% of the year’s snow.
- Average lows at or below 32°F: December through March.
- Coldest nights: January, average low 18.8°F. Warmest days: July, average high 81.4°F.
Planning outdoor work in Altoona
Average lows sit at or below freezing from December through March, so plan base work, planting and seeding around the frost dates above. Frost depth and ground snow load for footings and roofs are set by your town; our design criteria by ZIP tool shows who sets them for your address. For planting beds, start with a soil test.
Towns near Altoona
| Town | Miles | Precip. (in.) | Snow (in.) | Median last freeze | Median first freeze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebensburg | 14 | 48.68 | 79.7 | May 17 | Oct. 2 |
| Philipsburg | 29 | 42.02 | 50.0 | May 13 | Oct. 1 |
| Everett | 34 | 40.35 | 27.0 | April 27 | Oct. 17 |
| Indiana | 35 | 47.86 | 45.8 | May 8 | Oct. 13 |
| State College | 38 | 41.53 | 43.8 | April 20 | Oct. 26 |
| Clarence | 47 | 44.47 | 50.3 | May 21 | Sept. 27 |
Miles are straight-line distances between NOAA stations. See every town on our Pennsylvania rainfall and snowfall by town chart.
Questions
How much snow does Altoona, PA get a year?
Altoona averages 38.1 in. of snow a year, per NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for its Altoona 3 W station. The snowiest month is February, at 11.0 in.
How much rain does Altoona, PA get a year?
Altoona averages 44.72 in. of precipitation a year, counting rain and melted snow. The wettest month is May, at 4.41 in.
When is the last frost in Altoona, PA?
The median last 32°F freeze in Altoona is April 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 after April 10.
When is the first frost in Altoona, PA?
The median first 32°F freeze in Altoona is Oct. 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct. 5, and in 9 years in 10 before Nov. 5.
How long is the growing season in Altoona?
About 176 days between the median last and first 32°F freezes, April 25 to Oct. 21.
What is the coldest month in Altoona?
January, with an average low of 18.8°F and an average high of 33.8°F.
About this data
Station: NOAA’s Altoona 3 W station (GHCN USC00360140), about 3 miles west of Altoona, elevation 1,320 ft, 40.495° N, 78.467° W. These are NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, 30-year averages that NOAA recomputes every 10 years. NOAA rates this station’s precipitation normals standard, its snow normals provisional and its temperature and freeze normals standard. Standard means at least 24 years of data, with missing months filled from nearby stations. Provisional means at least 10 years of data, with gaps NOAA could not fill from nearby stations.
Your yard can differ from the station. Elevation, valleys and hillsides change how much snow falls and when the first and last freezes come.
Sources: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals; annual and seasonal normals for USC00360140; monthly normals for USC00360140; NOAA normals file documentation. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
Groundwork Design Co. · designed by builders
Get a plan that fits Altoona’s seasons
Groundwork Single Space ($349) is one area done right, like a patio or a front bed: a scaled 2D plan of one area, a material and plant list, paver and block style picks, and plants matched to your hardiness zone. Designed remotely, anywhere in the U.S.
See landscape designAll Pennsylvania townsAlso: Pennsylvania grass seed guide, soil testing, design criteria by ZIP.
Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584. Climate data from NOAA; not a forecast.
Using this guide? Link to it or cite it. It's free to use with a link back, and we keep it updated against official sources.
Cite as: Muthler Landscaping & Construction, “Altoona, PA Rainfall, Snowfall and Frost Dates,” https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/pennsylvania/climate/altoona/ (last checked November 13, 2026).
Get an email when your state’s rules change
We re-check every entry against official sources. Tell us your state and we’ll email you when something changes.