Academy, SD Climate

Climate Insight: Academy, SD

An annual average temperature of 48°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 59°F to a mean daily low of 37°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Academy, South Dakota. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from station USC00390043 and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.

Academy averages 24.0 inches of precipitation a year, with 41.5 inches typically falling as snow, and that matters as much to daily life here as temperature does. The frost-free season averages 161 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 30 and the first fall freeze near October 8. As for energy demand, 7,117 heating degree days and 859 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Academy scores 59/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.