Bison, SD Climate

Climate Insight: Bison, SD

In Bison, South Dakota, the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals put the annual average temperature at 46°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 58°F to a mean daily low of 34°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. As thirty-year averages computed from station USC00390701, these numbers smooth out year-to-year noise into a working baseline for a typical month.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Bison receives roughly 18.1 inches of precipitation each year, with 39.7 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 144 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 10 and the first fall freeze near October 1. For energy use, 7,612 heating degree days and 632 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Bison scores 49/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Use the monthly tables above to plan around specific windows, shoulder seasons for mild highs and lows, peak summer for July-driven heat, or deep winter for January-driven cold. All figures here are thirty-year averages: any single year may run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal, so treat them as planning guidance rather than forecasts.