Climate Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 46°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Newell, SD Climate
Annual temperature, rainfall, and a comfort score, sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 normals →
- 46°F
- Avg annual temp
- 49/100
- Comfort score
- 16.6"
- Annual precip
- 146d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Newell
Newell, South Dakota averages 46°F a year and scores 49/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 18% of U.S. cities.
- 46°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 49/100
- comfort score, milder than 18% of U.S. cities
- 16.6"
- annual precipitation · 40" snow
- 146 days
- frost-free growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
46°F (8°C)
Avg High
58°F
Avg Low
33°F
Annual Precip
16.6"
Annual Snow
39.8"
Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
46°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
16.6"
Plus 39.8" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Newell) 49.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Newell area.
How Newell compares to every U.S. city
Newell's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
49 Top 82% higher than 18% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Newell
MethodologyHow the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Newell captures average conditions across the spread shown, the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (0°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.4" | 4.7" | 30.7 | 0.0 |
| February | 35°F (2°C) | 13°F (-11°C) | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.5" | 5.1" | 27.1 | 0.0 |
| March | 46°F (8°C) | 22°F (-6°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 0.8" | 7.2" | 27.2 | 0.0 |
| April | 56°F (13°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 1.8" | 6.5" | 16.0 | 0.1 |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.2" | 1.1" | 3.8 | 0.5 |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 3.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| July | 86°F (30°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.1" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 11.4 |
| August | 85°F (30°C) | 57°F (14°C) | 71°F (22°C) | 1.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 10.8 |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 61°F (16°C) | 1.0" | 0.0" | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| October | 60°F (16°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 1.4" | 2.8" | 14.2 | 0.4 |
| November | 45°F (7°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 0.5" | 4.2" | 27.2 | 0.0 |
| December | 34°F (1°C) | 12°F (-11°C) | 23°F (-5°C) | 0.4" | 8.2" | 30.6 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 0.4"
Snow: 4.7"
3.6 days with precipitation
February 0.5"
Snow: 5.1"
3.9 days with precipitation
March 0.8"
Snow: 7.2"
4.5 days with precipitation
April 1.8"
Snow: 6.5"
7.3 days with precipitation
May 3.2"
Snow: 1.1"
9.3 days with precipitation
June 3.3"
9.4 days with precipitation
July 2.1"
7.6 days with precipitation
August 1.3"
5.6 days with precipitation
September 1.0"
4.1 days with precipitation
October 1.4"
Snow: 2.8"
4.5 days with precipitation
November 0.5"
Snow: 4.2"
3.3 days with precipitation
December 0.4"
Snow: 8.2"
3.6 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
October 1
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 8
50% probability date
Growing Season
146 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
7,618
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
613
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Newell's climate means for you
Newell runs 46°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 146 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 8 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 7,618 heating and 613 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Newell, SD
An annual average temperature of 46°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 58°F to a mean daily low of 33°F is what the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals report for Newell, South Dakota. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. That baseline comes from station USC00396054 and thirty years of averaging, so it reflects a typical month rather than any one year's swings.
Beyond temperature, Newell averages 16.6 inches of precipitation annually, with 39.8 inches typically falling as snow - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 146 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 8 and the first fall freeze near October 1. Turning to energy use, 7,618 heating degree days and 613 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Newell 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Newell, SD? ▼
The average annual temperature in Newell, South Dakota is 46°F. The warmest month averages 86°F (30°C) and the coldest averages 10°F (-12°C).
How much rain does Newell get? ▼
Newell receives 16.6 inches of precipitation annually, including 39.8 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Newell? ▼
Newell has a climate comfort score of 49/100 (Moderate), milder than 18% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Newell? ▼
Newell has approximately 146 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 8 and the first fall freeze around October 1.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Newell? ▼
Newell has 7,618 heating degree days and 613 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Newell climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00396054 near Newell.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00396054. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.