Mitchell, SD Climate

Climate Insight: Mitchell, SD

An annual average temperature of 48°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 58°F to a mean daily low of 38°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Mitchell, South Dakota. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from 2 weather stations and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Mitchell receives roughly 25.8 inches of precipitation each year, with 40.6 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 167 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near April 27 and the first fall freeze near October 11. For energy use, 7,122 heating degree days and 940 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Mitchell scores 59/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. The monthly tables above are the practical planning tool: mild highs and lows land in the shoulder seasons, July-driven heat peaks in summer, and January-driven cold sets in over deep winter. These are thirty-year averages, not a forecast - any single year can run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal.