Mt Rushmore Nmem, SD Climate: Temperature & Rain by Month
Explore NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals → and a clearly labeled PlainClimate comfort calculation
30-year climate normals (1991-2020) from Mt Rushmore Nmem's primary NOAA station, MT RUSHMORE NMEM.
The climate verdict for Mt Rushmore Nmem
Mt Rushmore Nmem, South Dakota has a mixed annual climate rather than one dominant extreme. Its NOAA normal shows an annual average of 46°F. At 54/100 (moderate) the climate comfort score falls in the bottom third of the station-mapped U.S. score corpus, exceeding only 31% of scores.
- 46°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 54/100
- comfort score, above 31% of station-mapped location scores
- 24.1"
- annual precipitation · 59" snow
- 139 days
- growing season, frost-free days
Mt Rushmore Nmem: NOAA 1991-2020 normals describe a typical year, not a forecast. Method: /methodology.
Normals record plate
Sheet USC00395870 · Mt Rushmore Nmem, SD 46°F mean · 24.1" precip
TEMP-COOL · RANK-COOL · PHOTO-FINISH · PRCP-DRY · SWING-MID · COMF-LOW · LOAD-HEAT · STN-1 · BOOK-FULL
- TEMP-COOL 46°F
- RANK-COOL #1,509
- PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Glens Falls
- PRCP-DRY 24.1"
- SWING-MID 42°F
- COMF-LOW 54/100
- LOAD-HEAT 7,407 HDD
- STN-1 USC00395870
- BOOK-FULL 6/6 fields
Nearest mean-temperature peer: Glens Falls, NY (+ 0 °F mean)
Instrument codes from this station's NOAA 1991–2020 normals, mean temperature, corpus warmth rank, photo-finish peer station, precipitation band, seasonal swing, comfort composite, degree-day load, and field book, not a livability rating.
Mean-temperature neighbourhood
Nationwide NOAA normal poles and nearest peers, not a reprint of every SD station list.
- Mt Rushmore Nmem (this station) 46°F
- Hot Standish, MI 46°F
- Near Glens Falls, NY 46°F
- Near Maple City, MI 46°F
- Near Gladwin, MI 46°F
Climate Living Index · Mt Rushmore Nmem
Mt Rushmore Nmem: 31/100 · grade F
Mt Rushmore Nmem publishes 5 of 6 Living Index dimensions (NOAA annual/seasonal normals · NOAA daily multivariate normals); 1 missing weight rescale to 100.
PlainClimate-derived for Mt Rushmore Nmem, not an official NOAA rating. Rankings still use Comfort Score 54/100 (separate formula). Breakpoints and limits.
| Dimension | Station value | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Precipitation balance | 24.1 in · 10.9 from 35 in | 62/100 · C |
| Normal heat + freeze calendar | 172 calendar days | 31/100 · F |
| Annual temperature balance | 45.7°F · 21.8° from 67.5°F | 22/100 · F |
| Frost-free season | 139 days/year | 18/100 · F |
| Snowfall burden | 59.3 inches/year | 16/100 · F |
Mt Rushmore Nmem · 2026-08-04 · NOAA NCEI Climate Normals · method · Comfort Score method.
Mt Rushmore Nmem is a continental Köppen climate: Dfb
Coldest-month mean 27.3°F and warmest-month mean 68.9°F place this station in continental, no dry season, warm summer climates (Dfb). Class Dfb is the Peel et al. (2007) label for this station's monthly mean temperature and precipitation normals: continental, specifically continental, no dry season, warm summer.
- Köppen code
- Dfb
- Group
- Continental
- Warmest month
- 68.9°F
- Coldest month
- 27.3°F
Source: official public datasets monthly normals (1991–2020) at the city’s primary station. This is a station classification, not a mapped regional consensus.
National standing · heating-led station
Where Mt Rushmore Nmem sits across the climate record
Three NOAA fields for Mt Rushmore Nmem's primary station, temperature, precipitation, and seasonal swing, are ranked against every station-mapped normal that carries the same field.
- Annual temperature
- Cooler than 78%
- Among 6,861 stations, Mt Rushmore Nmem sits in the cooler third of annual means.
- Annual precipitation
- 33rd percentile wetness
- Neither arid nor torrential versus 6,352 station totals.
- Seasonal temperature swing
- 43rd percentile swing
- Typical seasonal amplitude versus 6,861 complete station-years.
How Mt Rushmore Nmem compares across U.S. station-mapped locations
Mt Rushmore Nmem's comfort score vs. all station-mapped locations
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
54 31st percentile score exceeds 31% of 6,189 station-mapped location scores
- 0–10: 0 station-mapped locations (0%). Below this entry.
- 10–20: 0 station-mapped locations (0%). Below this entry.
- 20–30: 96 station-mapped locations (2%). Below this entry.
- 30–40: 280 station-mapped locations (5%). Below this entry.
- 40–50: 1,113 station-mapped locations (18%). Below this entry.
- 50–60: 1,329 station-mapped locations (21%). This entry sits in this band.
- 60–70: 1,236 station-mapped locations (20%). Above this entry.
- 70–80: 650 station-mapped locations (11%). Above this entry.
- 80–90: 921 station-mapped locations (15%). Above this entry.
- 90–100: 564 station-mapped locations (9%). Above this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Mt Rushmore Nmem's measured station temperature trend
MethodologyAcross 49 complete annual observations from 1964 to 2025, MT RUSHMORE NMEM warmed at a fitted rate of 0.34°C per decade. The line shows the fitted change relative to its first year, not raw year-to-year temperatures or a forecast.
- Mt Rushmore Nmem primary station fitted change +0.34 °C/decade
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.5" | 7.2" | 26.5 | 0.0 |
| February | 36°F (2°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.8" | 8.9" | 24.6 | 0.0 |
| March | 44°F (7°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 1.4" | 9.6" | 22.6 | 0.0 |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 2.6" | 13.1" | 15.6 | 0.0 |
| May | 60°F (15°C) | 42°F (5°C) | 51°F (10°C) | 4.8" | 1.5" | 4.4 | 0.0 |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 62°F (16°C) | 3.6" | 0.2" | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.6" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| August | 78°F (25°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| September | 69°F (21°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8" | 0.9" | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| October | 55°F (13°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 1.8" | 4.9" | 9.7 | 0.0 |
| November | 44°F (7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 36°F (2°C) | 0.6" | 6.4" | 20.7 | 0.0 |
| December | 37°F (3°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.5" | 6.6" | 26.7 | 0.0 |
The year, day by day
Summer here tops out rather than builds: the warmest normal high is 80°F around July 22, short of 90°F on every date, while 172 dates carry a normal low at or below freezing, the coldest 18°F near February 6.
The freezing stretch
The normal low stays at or below 32°F into April 18, then returns to freezing around October 30, covering 172 dates in all.
Derived from the normal daily minimum. This is a different measure from the 50%-probability frost dates shown elsewhere on this page, which come from NOAA’s frost product.
Where the wet dates fall
The likeliest wet date is May 31, when 49% of years recorded at least a hundredth of an inch. The driest is November 28 at 14%. Summed across the calendar, that is about 102 wet dates a year.
The widest day
September 3 carries the biggest normal gap between afternoon and dawn, 20°F between the normal high and the normal low.
Look up any date
Any date's 1991–2020 normal for Mt Rushmore Nmem.
Where Mt Rushmore Nmem Stands Nationally
Among the steadiest day-night climates ranked: even the widest normal daily swing holds to roughly 20°F.
Mt Rushmore Nmem earns one nationally notable standing (outer quintile) against 6,860 NOAA 1991–2020 normals stations, middle-of-the-pack metrics stay silent here.
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
Snow: 7.2"
5.1 days with precipitation
Snow: 8.9"
6.1 days with precipitation
Snow: 9.6"
6.7 days with precipitation
Snow: 13.1"
9.7 days with precipitation
Snow: 1.5"
13.6 days with precipitation
Snow: 0.2"
13.4 days with precipitation
12.4 days with precipitation
10.5 days with precipitation
Snow: 0.9"
7.7 days with precipitation
Snow: 4.9"
7.1 days with precipitation
Snow: 6.4"
4.5 days with precipitation
Snow: 6.6"
4.7 days with precipitation
Mt Rushmore Nmem runs a summer-peaked wet season
39% of Mt Rushmore Nmem's yearly precipitation falls in June, July and August alone, against the 25% an evenly spread year would give those three months. The wettest month is May at 4.8", on a 41.6°F seasonal spread. Warm-season convection and, across the Southwest, the North American monsoon produce this shape: rain arrives in short heavy bursts during the hottest part of the year rather than as long cool-season soaking.
- Wettest three months: May, July, June, taking 50% of the annual total between them.
- Driest month: January at 0.5".
- Winter share: 7% falls in December, January and February.
Shares are computed from this station's own 1991-2020 monthly precipitation normals. A summer-peaked label means the June-August share reaches 35%; it describes timing across an average year, not any single season, and says nothing about how heavy an individual storm can be.
How Mt Rushmore Nmem's precipitation splits across the calendar
About 102 days a year record measurable precipitation here, carrying 24.1" between them, or roughly 0.24 inches on a typical wet day. That sits in the middle band: neither the many-light-days pattern of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes, nor the few-heavy-events pattern of the Gulf and the desert Southwest.
A wet day is one recording at least 0.01 inches. These are 1991-2020 normals: they describe an average year and say nothing about the heaviest single storm on record.
Winter brings real snow to Mt Rushmore Nmem
Mt Rushmore Nmem averages 59.3 inches of snowfall a year, with April the snowiest month on the normals, spread across roughly 27 days that record measurable snow. That is depth accumulating on the ground, which is why it can exceed the annual precipitation figure: precipitation counts the liquid the snow melts down to, and fresh snow is mostly air.
- Annual snowfall: 59.3 inches of depth.
- Days recording measurable snow: about 27 a year.
- At a rough ten-to-one melt ratio, snow accounts for on the order of 25% of the year's precipitation.
NOAA 1991-2020 normals. The ten-to-one ratio is a convention, not a measurement: real ratios vary with temperature, so treat the share as an order of magnitude rather than an exact split.
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 1
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 15
50% probability date
Growing Season
139 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
7,407
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
415
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
February
Nationwide similar cities
Other rankable U.S. places outside SD closest to Mt Rushmore Nmem on two NOAA annual-normal axes (mean temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.
Closest by average temperature
Nearest out-of-state peers by annual mean temperature (46°F here).
- Alpine, AZ 46°F · 0.0°F off
- Brunswick, ME 46°F · 0.0°F off
- Chilton, WI 46°F · 0.0°F off
- Cloudcroft, NM 46°F · 0.0°F off
Closest by annual precipitation
Nearest out-of-state peers by annual precipitation (24.1" here), excluding temperature-peer places.
- Gothenburg, NE 24.1" · 0.0" off
- McNary, AZ 24.1" · 0.0" off
- Miami, TX 24.1" · 0.0" off
- Alexandria, MN 24.1" · 0.0" off
Snow and freeze rhythm
When cold and snow define Mt Rushmore Nmem
heating led · moderate · mid swing
Mt Rushmore Nmem's energy balance leans toward cold weather: 7,407 annual heating degree days against 415 for cooling. Its 41.6°F seasonal range still makes the monthly rows more useful than the annual average alone.
Only about 139 days are frost-free in a normal year. That short interval is consistent with the cold-season signal, but the measure does not predict the exact first or last freeze in any one year.
-
1. Mt Rushmore Nmem coldest normal
February
The monthly mean of 27°F (-3°C) sits near freezing, so cold nights and above-freezing afternoons share the same month.
-
2. Mt Rushmore Nmem typical freeze period
January through December
The station reports average freezing days from January through December.
-
3. Mt Rushmore Nmem snow peak
April
Mt Rushmore Nmem averages 59.3 inches of snow a year, with April the snowiest month on the normals.
Questions about Mt Rushmore Nmem's climate
How much snow does Mt Rushmore Nmem get? ▼
How cold does Mt Rushmore Nmem get in winter? ▼
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Mt Rushmore Nmem? ▼
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). All figures on this page are from Mt Rushmore Nmem's primary station: MT RUSHMORE NMEM (USC00395870). For informational purposes only.
Place identity: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer places. The conservative exact name-and-state crosswalk finds no Census place match, so PlainClimate treats this as a station-mapped location and does not claim it is a municipality. No exact Gazetteer row for Mt Rushmore Nmem; facility counts that depend on place identity are therefore an upper bound, not a municipal census.
On this page every temperature, precipitation, and derived score for Mt Rushmore Nmem comes from its primary NOAA station record. No figure on this page is typed in by an editor - each value is rendered from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 1991–2020 normals.