Climate Comfort Score
44/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 44°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Ralph, SD Climate
Average temperature, precipitation, and a comfort score, drawn from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals →
- 44°F
- Avg annual temp
- 44/100
- Comfort score
- 16.2"
- Annual precip
- 128d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Ralph
Ralph, South Dakota averages 44°F a year and scores 44/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 8% of U.S. cities.
- 44°F
- yearly average temperature, NOAA normal
- 44/100
- comfort score, milder than 8% of U.S. cities
- 16.2"
- yearly precipitation total
- 128 days
- growing season, frost-free days
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
44°F (7°C)
Avg High
58°F
Avg Low
31°F
Annual Precip
16.2"
Comfort Score
44/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
44°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
16.2"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Ralph) 44.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Ralph area.
How Ralph compares to every U.S. city
Ralph's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
44 Top 92% higher than 8% 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 Ralph
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Ralph, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- 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 | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°F (-1°C) | 7°F (-14°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 0.5" | 30.7 | 0.0 |
| February | 33°F (1°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 22°F (-6°C) | 0.7" | 27.5 | 0.0 |
| March | 45°F (7°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 33°F (0°C) | 0.7" | 28.4 | 0.0 |
| April | 57°F (14°C) | 29°F (-2°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 1.3" | 19.4 | 0.1 |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7" | 6.3 | 0.3 |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.2" | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| July | 86°F (30°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 71°F (22°C) | 2.2" | 0.0 | 9.0 |
| August | 86°F (30°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 70°F (21°C) | 1.4" | 0.2 | 10.8 |
| September | 76°F (24°C) | 44°F (6°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 1.2" | 3.6 | 3.3 |
| October | 59°F (15°C) | 31°F (0°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 1.2" | 17.2 | 0.2 |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 31°F (0°C) | 0.5" | 28.2 | 0.0 |
| December | 33°F (0°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.5" | 30.9 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall
January 0.5"
4.7 days with precipitation
February 0.7"
5.5 days with precipitation
March 0.7"
5.7 days with precipitation
April 1.3"
6.7 days with precipitation
May 2.7"
8.4 days with precipitation
June 3.2"
10.0 days with precipitation
July 2.2"
8.8 days with precipitation
August 1.4"
4.8 days with precipitation
September 1.2"
5.0 days with precipitation
October 1.2"
5.7 days with precipitation
November 0.5"
5.8 days with precipitation
December 0.5"
3.7 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
September 23
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 18
50% probability date
Growing Season
128 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
8,033
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
489
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
What Ralph's climate means for you
Ralph runs 44°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 128 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 18 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 8,033 heating and 489 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: Ralph, SD
Based on station USC00396907 feeding NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, Ralph, South Dakota averages 44°F a year, ranging from a mean daily high of 58°F to a mean daily low of 31°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. Because these figures are thirty-year averages rather than any single year's readings, they describe the typical month, not a forecast for it.
Beyond temperature, Ralph averages 16.2 inches of precipitation annually, predominantly as rainfall - a real factor for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. The frost-free season averages 128 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 18 and the first fall freeze near September 23. Turning to energy use, 8,033 heating degree days and 489 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Ralph scores 44/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. For planning purposes, look to the monthly tables above: shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows, summer brings July-driven heat, and deep winter brings January-driven cold. Treat every figure here as a thirty-year average rather than a forecast - individual years routinely run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Ralph, SD? ▼
The average annual temperature in Ralph, South Dakota is 44°F. The warmest month averages 86°F (30°C) and the coldest averages 7°F (-14°C).
How much rain does Ralph get? ▼
Ralph receives 16.2 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Ralph? ▼
Ralph has a climate comfort score of 44/100 (Moderate), milder than 8% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Ralph? ▼
Ralph has approximately 128 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 18 and the first fall freeze around September 23.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Ralph? ▼
Ralph has 8,033 heating degree days and 489 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 Ralph climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USC00396907 near Ralph.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00396907. 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.