Climate Insights for Amherst

The climate in Amherst is cool. The average annual temperature is 8°C and approximately 977mm of precipitation falls per year. Amherst receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Amherst is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, June. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to -10°C. Snowfall occurs from January to December, with around 155cm accumulating over the season.

Amherst has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 37°C from the coldest to warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 27°C and the mean temperature sits around 22°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -10°C and the daily average is -7°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 10°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 8°C shift in average temperatures.

Amherst is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 977mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 81mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 127mm of rainfall. August and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 37mm. That's 90mm less than July, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall. Snowfall is a regular feature from January to December, with around 155cm accumulating over the season. December typically sees the most snow at around 32cm.

Amherst is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 13km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 14km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 10km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 4km/h between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 13km/h in winter, 14km/h in spring, 11km/h in summer, 13km/h in autumn.

It is currently summer in Amherst, which began on June 21, 2026. Amherst is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 27°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -10°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (7 days from now).

The best time to visit Amherst is during September, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 87mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 27°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -10°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely. Pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Amherst based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.