State guides · Pennsylvania · Climate by town
West Chester, PA rainfall, snowfall and frost dates
Thirty-year averages for West Chester 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.
West Chester averages 50.93 in. of precipitation and 30.5 in. of snow a year. The median last spring freeze (32°F) is April 26 and the median first fall freeze is Oct. 18, a growing season of about 174 days. From NOAA’s W Chester 2 NW station; checked Nov. 13, 2026.
Is it safe to plant in West Chester 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.
West Chester 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 26 | May 11 |
| First fall freeze comes before | Nov. 1 | Oct. 18 | Oct. 4 |
Hard freeze (28°F): the median last one in spring is April 11 and the median first one in fall is Oct. 30. The growing season between the median 32°F freezes, April 26 to Oct. 18, runs about 174 days.
Planting tender plants after May 11 means a freeze afterward in only about 1 year in 10. Planting on April 26 leaves even odds. For lawn seeding windows, see our Pennsylvania grass seed guide.
West Chester rain and snow by month
| Month | Precipitation (in.) | Snow (in.) | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.65 | 7.9 | 39.5 | 19.7 |
| February | 3.12 | 13.2 | 42.5 | 21.2 |
| March | 4.61 | 4.1 | 50.9 | 28.7 |
| April | 3.78 | 0.4 | 63.2 | 38.1 |
| May | 3.81 | 0.0 | 73.0 | 48.6 |
| June | 4.01 | 0.0 | 82.0 | 58.7 |
| July | 4.41 | 0.0 | 86.2 | 63.7 |
| August | 4.79 | 0.0 | 84.4 | 61.6 |
| September | 5.65 | 0.0 | 78.0 | 53.7 |
| October | 4.83 | 0.0 | 66.1 | 41.4 |
| November | 3.55 | 0.5 | 54.9 | 31.8 |
| December | 4.72 | 4.4 | 44.4 | 25.2 |
| Year | 50.93 | 30.5 | Average 52.4°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: September, 5.65 in. Driest: February, 3.12 in.
- Snowiest month: February, 13.2 in. Months averaging 1 in. or more: December through March. December through February bring about 84% of the year’s snow.
- Average lows at or below 32°F: November through March.
- Coldest nights: January, average low 19.7°F. Warmest days: July, average high 86.2°F.
Planning outdoor work in West Chester
Average lows sit at or below freezing from November 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 West Chester
| Town | Miles | Precip. (in.) | Snow (in.) | Median last freeze | Median first freeze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coatesville | 12 | 52.12 | 31.9 | April 19 | Oct. 25 |
| Norristown | 18 | 50.65 | 25.3 | April 8 | Oct. 31 |
| Philadelphia | 23 | 44.11 | 23.1 | April 2 | Nov. 10 |
| New Holland | 24 | 46.84 | 33.5 | April 14 | Nov. 1 |
| Sellersville | 32 | 51.68 | 21.7 | April 26 | Oct. 17 |
| Lancaster | 34 | 44.15 | 21.4 | April 19 | Oct. 24 |
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 West Chester, PA get a year?
West Chester averages 30.5 in. of snow a year, per NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for its W Chester 2 NW station. The snowiest month is February, at 13.2 in.
How much rain does West Chester, PA get a year?
West Chester averages 50.93 in. of precipitation a year, counting rain and melted snow. The wettest month is September, at 5.65 in.
When is the last frost in West Chester, PA?
The median last 32°F freeze in West Chester is April 26. 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 West Chester, PA?
The median first 32°F freeze in West Chester is Oct. 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct. 4, and in 9 years in 10 before Nov. 1.
How long is the growing season in West Chester?
About 174 days between the median last and first 32°F freezes, April 26 to Oct. 18.
What is the coldest month in West Chester?
January, with an average low of 19.7°F and an average high of 39.5°F.
About this data
Station: NOAA’s W Chester 2 NW station (GHCN USC00369464), about 2 miles northwest of West Chester, elevation 375 ft, 39.971° N, 75.635° 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 representative, its snow normals provisional and its temperature and freeze normals representative. Representative means at least 10 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 USC00369464; monthly normals for USC00369464; NOAA normals file documentation. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
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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, “West Chester, PA Rainfall, Snowfall and Frost Dates,” https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/pennsylvania/climate/west-chester/ (last checked November 13, 2026).
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