Harrold, SD Climate

Climate Insight: Harrold, SD

Harrold, South Dakota runs an annual average of 44°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 58°F to a mean daily low of 31°F, per NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Drawn from station USC00393608, these thirty-year averages smooth out year-to-year swings into a baseline for what a typical month looks like here.

Rainfall (and snow, where it falls) shapes day-to-day life here as much as temperature does. Harrold sees about 18.6 inches of precipitation a year, with 40.0 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 130 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 17 and the first fall freeze near September 24. On the energy side, 8,161 heating degree days and 657 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Harrold scores 39/100 (Below Average), 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.