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Storm Lake, IA Climate

Temperature, precipitation, and comfort score from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals →

30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).

Storm Lake, Iowa has an average annual temperature of 47°F and a climate comfort score of 67/100 (Good). Annual precipitation totals 33.8". Based on NOAA 30-year normals (1991–2020).

Avg Temperature

47°F (8°C)

Avg High

57°F

Avg Low

38°F

Annual Precip

33.8"

Comfort Score

67/100

Good

Climate Comfort Score

67/100

Good

Avg Annual Temperature

47°F

30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)

Annual Precipitation

33.8"

Liquid-equivalent total

Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Storm Lake) 67.0%
National median (≈55)

PlainClimate composite — temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the Storm Lake area.

Warming context for Storm Lake

Methodology

How the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Storm Lake captures average conditions across the spread shown — the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.

Warming context — U.S. vs global, with Paris reference lines Anomaly chart from 1900 to 2024. Local series shows warming of 0.11 °C per decade versus a global rate of 0.11 °C per decade (ratio 1.00). Paris Agreement thresholds at 1.5 and 2.0 °C are dashed. -1.0°C -0.5°C +0.0°C +0.5°C +1.0°C +1.5°C +2.0°C +2.5°C Paris 1.5°C Paris 2.0°C 1900192019401960198020002020
  • 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
Sources: NOAA NCEI, NASA GISTEMP. Paris thresholds per IPCC AR6 WG1.

Monthly Temperatures

Average daily high and low temperatures by month

Month Avg High Avg Low Mean
January 26°F (-3°C) 9°F (-13°C) 17°F (-8°C)
February 30°F (-1°C) 13°F (-10°C) 22°F (-6°C)
March 43°F (6°C) 25°F (-4°C) 34°F (1°C)
April 58°F (15°C) 37°F (3°C) 48°F (9°C)
May 69°F (21°C) 49°F (10°C) 59°F (15°C)
June 79°F (26°C) 60°F (16°C) 70°F (21°C)
July 82°F (28°C) 64°F (18°C) 73°F (23°C)
August 80°F (27°C) 61°F (16°C) 71°F (21°C)
September 74°F (23°C) 53°F (11°C) 63°F (17°C)
October 61°F (16°C) 40°F (4°C) 50°F (10°C)
November 44°F (7°C) 27°F (-3°C) 36°F (2°C)
December 31°F (0°C) 15°F (-9°C) 23°F (-5°C)

Monthly Precipitation

Average monthly rainfall

January 0.8"
February 1.0"
March 1.7"
April 3.5"
May 4.9"
June 5.3"
July 3.8"
August 4.4"
September 3.0"
October 2.4"
November 1.8"
December 1.1"

Frost Dates & Growing Season

First Fall Freeze

October 13

50% probability date

Last Spring Freeze

April 25

50% probability date

Heating & Cooling Degree Days

Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling

Heating Degree Days

7,230

Higher = more heating needed

Cooling Degree Days

754

Higher = more cooling needed

Warmest Month

July

Coldest Month

January

Related Data

Climate Guides

Climate Insight: Storm Lake, IA

The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Storm Lake, Iowa as a location with an annual average temperature of 47°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 57°F to a mean daily low of 38°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USC00137979, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Storm Lake receives roughly 33.8 inches of precipitation each year, predominantly as rainfall. Growing-season length varies with elevation and microclimate, with the last spring freeze near April 25 and the first fall freeze near October 13. For energy use, 7,230 heating degree days and 754 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Storm Lake scores 67/100 (Good), 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 Storm Lake, IA?
The average annual temperature in Storm Lake, Iowa is 47°F. The warmest month averages 82°F (28°C) and the coldest averages 9°F (-13°C).
How much rain does Storm Lake get?
Storm Lake receives 33.8 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Storm Lake?
Storm Lake has a climate comfort score of 67/100 (Good). This score considers temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, and extreme weather frequency.
When is the growing season in Storm Lake?
Growing season data is not available for Storm Lake.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Storm Lake?
Storm Lake has 7,230 heating degree days and 754 cooling degree days annually. Higher heating degree days indicate greater winter energy demand, while higher cooling degree days indicate greater summer cooling needs.
Where does this Storm Lake climate data come from?
All climate data comes from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1, covering the 30-year period from 1991 to 2020. Data is collected from weather station USC00137979. These 30-year averages are the standard reference for typical weather conditions.

Data Sources

Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00137979. For informational purposes only.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial