Climate Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 43°F annual avg Public-domain federal data
Watertown Rgnl, SD Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 43°F
- Avg annual temp
- 49/100
- Comfort score
- 22.7"
- Annual precip
- 146d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Watertown Rgnl
Watertown Rgnl, South Dakota averages 43°F a year and scores 49/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 18% of U.S. cities.
- 43°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 49/100
- comfort score, milder than 18% of U.S. cities
- 22.7"
- annual precipitation · 41" 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
43°F (6°C)
Avg High
53°F
Avg Low
33°F
Annual Precip
22.7"
Annual Snow
41.1"
Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
43°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
22.7"
Plus 41.1" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Watertown Rgnl) 49.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Watertown Rgnl area.
How Watertown Rgnl compares to every U.S. city
Watertown Rgnl'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 Watertown Rgnl
MethodologyZooming out from Watertown Rgnl's own normal, the chart below shows how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has tracked the global mean since 1900 - the most recent decade sits warmer than the 30-year mean shown here.
- 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 | 21°F (-6°C) | 3°F (-16°C) | 12°F (-11°C) | 0.6" | 6.7" | 31.0 | 0.0 |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 7°F (-14°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 0.7" | 8.9" | 27.5 | 0.0 |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 20°F (-7°C) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.0" | 5.4" | 27.1 | 0.0 |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 2.1" | 5.2" | 16.1 | 0.0 |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.9" | 0.1" | 2.3 | 0.3 |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.9" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.6 |
| July | 82°F (28°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 4.1 |
| August | 80°F (26°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 69°F (20°C) | 2.9" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.6 |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 2.5" | 0.0" | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| October | 56°F (13°C) | 35°F (2°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 1.9" | 1.4" | 11.9 | 0.0 |
| November | 40°F (4°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 31°F (-1°C) | 0.7" | 4.5" | 26.3 | 0.0 |
| December | 26°F (-3°C) | 9°F (-13°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.7" | 8.9" | 30.9 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 0.6"
Snow: 6.7"
5.9 days with precipitation
February 0.7"
Snow: 8.9"
6.0 days with precipitation
March 1.0"
Snow: 5.4"
6.9 days with precipitation
April 2.1"
Snow: 5.2"
8.9 days with precipitation
May 2.9"
Snow: 0.1"
11.4 days with precipitation
June 3.9"
11.4 days with precipitation
July 3.0"
9.5 days with precipitation
August 2.9"
8.6 days with precipitation
September 2.5"
8.5 days with precipitation
October 1.9"
Snow: 1.4"
7.5 days with precipitation
November 0.7"
Snow: 4.5"
5.4 days with precipitation
December 0.7"
Snow: 8.9"
6.3 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
September 30
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 7
50% probability date
Growing Season
146 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
8,501
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
518
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
January
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81% | 10.6 | 50% | 33% |
| February | 79% | 11.1 | 49% | 34% |
| March | 69% | 12.3 | 51% | 30% |
| April | 60% | 11.7 | 52% | 28% |
| May | 66% | 10.0 | 48% | 25% |
| June | 69% | 9.8 | 60% | 12% |
| July | 71% | 8.4 | 63% | 11% |
| August | 72% | 9.5 | 69% | 13% |
| September | 67% | 10.5 | 64% | 21% |
| October | 72% | 11.3 | 57% | 31% |
| November | 79% | 10.9 | 55% | 32% |
| December | 82% | 10.8 | 50% | 37% |
What Watertown Rgnl's climate means for you
Watertown Rgnl runs 43°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in January.
- Gardeners get about 146 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 7 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 8,501 heating and 518 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: Watertown Rgnl, SD
Based on station USW00014946 feeding NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, Watertown Rgnl, South Dakota averages 43°F a year, ranging from a mean daily high of 53°F to a mean daily low of 33°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.
Rainfall (and snow, where it falls) shapes day-to-day life here as much as temperature does. Watertown Rgnl sees about 22.7 inches of precipitation a year, with 41.1 inches typically falling as snow. 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 7 and the first fall freeze near September 30. On the energy side, 8,501 heating degree days and 518 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Watertown Rgnl scores 49/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Shoulder seasons bring the mildest highs and lows in the monthly tables above, summer brings July-driven heat, and winter brings January-driven cold - use that rhythm for planning. These figures are thirty-year averages rather than forecasts, so a specific year may still run warmer, cooler, wetter, or drier than what's shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Watertown Rgnl, SD? ▼
The average annual temperature in Watertown Rgnl, South Dakota is 43°F. The warmest month averages 82°F (28°C) and the coldest averages 3°F (-16°C).
How much rain does Watertown Rgnl get? ▼
Watertown Rgnl receives 22.7 inches of precipitation annually, including 41.1 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Watertown Rgnl? ▼
Watertown Rgnl 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 Watertown Rgnl? ▼
Watertown Rgnl has approximately 146 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 7 and the first fall freeze around September 30.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Watertown Rgnl? ▼
Watertown Rgnl has 8,501 heating degree days and 518 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 Watertown Rgnl climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from weather station USW00014946 near Watertown Rgnl.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00014946. 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.