Climateby Month

Wilmington, DE weather in February

NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records · Wilmington all year

In February, Wilmington sees highs around 44°F and lows around 27°F: chilly, with some rain and some snow. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 7.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Wilmington.

Normal high
44°F
Normal low
27°F
Wet days
10
2.8 in total
Snowfall
7.8 in
snow on the ground 6 days

How February changes from start to finish

Normal values at the start and end of February
February 1February 28
Normal high42°F47°F
Normal low25°F30°F
Chance of a wet day34%35%
Sunrise / sunset7:10 am / 5:21 pm6:36 am / 5:52 pm
Daylight10.2 h11.3 h

Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).

A typical February day

  1. 6 am32°Fdew point 22°F
  2. 9 am34°Fdew point 23°F
  3. Noon40°Fdew point 23°F
  4. 3 pm42°Fdew point 23°F
  5. 6 pm39°Fdew point 23°F
  6. 9 pm37°Fdew point 23°F

NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Philadelphia Intl Airport (19 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 60% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 35%.

What kind of days to expect

  • Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 28
  • Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 of 28
  • Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 28
  • Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 28
  • Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 28
  • Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 28
  • Freezing nightslow 32°F or below21 of 28
  • Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more6 of 28

Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.

Rain and snow in February

Normal precipitation is 2.8 in; a dry February brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 3.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.8 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.

How February varies from year to year

  • Warmest February, 1991-20202017: average high 54°F
  • Coolest February2015: average high 34°F
  • Wettest February2018: 6.0 in
  • Driest February2009: 0.3 in
  • Highest reading78°F (February 21, 2018)
  • Lowest reading0°F (February 5, 1996)

From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.

February compared with January and March

JanuaryFebruaryMarch
Normal high41°F44°F53°F
Normal low26°F27°F34°F
Wet days111011
Comfortable days114
Daylight9.7 h10.7 h12.0 h

Highs change by +3°F from January and +9°F into March.

Nearby alternatives in February

How Wilmington ranks in February

  • Normal high250th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 2 in Delaware
  • Wet days270th driest of 378
  • Comfortable days217th most of 340

What to pack for Wilmington in February

  • A warm jacket – lows near 27°F, highs near 44°F
  • A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
  • Waterproof boots – about 7.8 in of snow in a typical year
  • A hat and gloves – about 21 freezing nights

Heating and cooling

February has 825 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.

Questions

How cold is Wilmington in February?

The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 27°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was 0°F (February 5, 1996).

Does it rain a lot in Wilmington in February?

About 10 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.8 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 2018 (6.0 in); the driest was in 2009 (0.3 in).

Does it snow in Wilmington in February?

Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 7.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.

Is February a good time to visit Wilmington?

February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Wilmington (38 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.

Where the numbers come from

  • Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Wilmington New Castle Co Airport (USW00013781), 5.8 mi SSW of the city center, 79 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Frost dates: Wilmington Porter Rsch (USC00079605), 1.9 mi N of the city center, 270 ft (179 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Humidity and wind by hour: Philadelphia Intl Airport (USW00013739), 19 mi ENE of the city center, 10 ft (81 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Cloud cover: Millville Muni Airport (USW00013735), 37 mi SE of the city center, 70 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Daily humidity and wind: Philadelphia International Airport (724080-13739), 19 mi ENE of the city center, 7 ft (84 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.