Rochester, NY weather in February
In February, Rochester sees highs around 35°F and lows around 20°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 16 days. Snowfall averages about 23.1 in. It is one of the coldest months in Rochester. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 35°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 16
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 23.1 in
- snow on the ground 19 days
How February changes from start to finish
| February 1 | February 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 59% | 56% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 5:22 pm | 6:48 am / 5:57 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 11.2 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
- 6 am24°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am26°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon30°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm31°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm29°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm27°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow16 of 28
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 28
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 28
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more19 of 28
Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in February
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry February brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 23.1 in, with about 7 days of an inch or more.
How February varies from year to year
- Warmest February, 1991-20202017: average high 44°F
- Coolest February2015: average high 21°F
- Wettest February2008: 4.3 in
- Driest February1999: 0.7 in
- Highest reading73°F (February 21, 1997)
- Lowest reading-12°F (February 14, 2016)
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
| January | February | March | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 35°F | 44°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 20°F | 27°F |
| Wet days | 20 | 16 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 10.5 h | 11.9 h |
Highs change by +2°F from January and +9°F into March.
Nearby alternatives in February
- Warmer: Allentown, PA207 mi · high 42°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Saratoga Springs, NY193 mi · high 35°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY197 mi · high 27°F · 14 wet days
How Rochester ranks in February
- Normal high323rd warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 10 in New York
- Wet days371st driest of 378
- Comfortable days278th most of 340
What to pack for Rochester in February
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 35°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 16 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 19 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
February has 1053 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rochester in February?
The normal high is 35°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was -12°F (February 14, 2016).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in February?
About 16 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (4.3 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in February?
Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 23.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 19 days.
Is February a good time to visit Rochester?
February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (29 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (USW00014768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 533 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rochester International Airport (725290-14768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 540 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).