NOAA climate atlas · updated August 2026
South Dakota Climate Data
Climate normals for 149 station-mapped locations, each from its primary station in South Dakota's 277-station NOAA network.
- average temperature
- 46°F (8°C)45.6°F · fleet p50 52.2°F · n=50
- Cooler national band
- annual precipitation
- 21.8"21.8 inches · fleet p50 43.7 inches · n=50
- Drier national band
- annual snowfall
- 44.2"44.2 inches · fleet p50 24.7 inches · n=50
- More snow than median
- locations / stations
- 149 / 277State coverage: 149 locations / 277 stations. Benchmark context: this profile's measured location and NOAA-station counts.
- State coverage
South Dakota's climate in one line
South Dakota averages 46°F a year - cooler than 80% of U.S. states, spanning Rochford at 39°F to Interior at 50°F.
- 46°F
- statewide average · 20th percentile of states
- 22"
- average annual precipitation
- 64/100
- most comfortable: Bridgewater
- 149
- station-mapped locations · 277 NOAA stations
Statewide figures are simple averages across 149 station-mapped locations (each from its primary NOAA station), local conditions vary widely by elevation and coast distance.
How South Dakota ranks among all 50 states
South Dakota's average temperature vs. all U.S. states
Statewide annual mean temperature, NOAA 1991–2020 normals
46°F 20th percentile cooler than 80% of 50 U.S. states
- 30°F–35°F: 1 US states (2%). Below this entry.
- 35°F–40°F: 0 US states (0%). Below this entry.
- 40°F–45°F: 8 US states (16%). Below this entry.
- 45°F–50°F: 10 US states (20%). This entry sits in this band.
- 50°F–55°F: 12 US states (24%). Above this entry.
- 55°F–60°F: 8 US states (16%). Above this entry.
- 60°F–65°F: 7 US states (14%). Above this entry.
- 65°F–70°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
- 70°F–75°F: 2 US states (4%). Above this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (statewide aggregate) · 1991–2020
South Dakota in the national rankings
- Ranks #11 coldest of 50 states at 45.6°F annual average, 7.5°F below the 53.1°F mean of all state averages - see all 50 coldest states ranked by NOAA normals
- In winter (Dec–Feb) it averages 20.9°F, the #7 coldest winter of 50 states - winter ranking
- 54.3% of NOAA hourly observations report clear sky (5 measured locations), the #10 clearest of 47 ranked states - sunniest states by clear-sky frequency
Temperature × precipitation · 50-state landscape
South Dakota in the national climate landscape
South Dakota averages 45.6°F and 21.8 inches of annual precipitation across 149 station-mapped locations. Against the same complete 50-state cohort, that places it in the cooler and drier half of the chart. Dashed lines mark the national medians of 52.3°F and 43.7 inches.
Read all 50 state values
Each point is PlainClimate's simple average across the station-mapped location normals available for that state. Cohort sizes vary and are shown below; the values are not population weighted. Dashed lines mark the median of this 50-state comparison and are guides, not comfort or safety thresholds.
| State | Locations | Annual mean | Annual precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 172 | 33.5°F | 47.6 in |
| Alabama | 100 | 63.3°F | 57.9 in |
| Arkansas | 110 | 60.7°F | 52.2 in |
| Arizona | 169 | 62.3°F | 12.4 in |
| California | 363 | 59.8°F | 21.6 in |
| Colorado | 214 | 46.3°F | 15.9 in |
| Connecticut | 23 | 50.1°F | 48.6 in |
| Delaware | 7 | 56.2°F | 46.8 in |
| Florida | 165 | 72.6°F | 55.2 in |
| Georgia | 122 | 63.4°F | 52.0 in |
| Hawaii | 49 | 72.4°F | 48.5 in |
| Iowa | 143 | 48.0°F | 35.9 in |
| Idaho | 139 | 46.1°F | 18.0 in |
| Illinois | 163 | 52.2°F | 40.7 in |
| Indiana | 116 | 52.4°F | 43.7 in |
| Kansas | 168 | 54.8°F | 31.2 in |
| Kentucky | 95 | 56.2°F | 50.6 in |
| Louisiana | 91 | 67.3°F | 60.3 in |
| Massachusetts | 68 | 49.2°F | 48.2 in |
| Maryland | 42 | 55.6°F | 45.5 in |
| Maine | 79 | 43.1°F | 46.4 in |
| Michigan | 201 | 45.5°F | 34.2 in |
| Minnesota | 172 | 42.2°F | 30.0 in |
| Missouri | 164 | 55.1°F | 43.9 in |
| Mississippi | 91 | 64.1°F | 59.7 in |
| Montana | 215 | 43.4°F | 15.9 in |
| North Carolina | 178 | 59.1°F | 52.2 in |
| North Dakota | 119 | 41.0°F | 19.2 in |
| Nebraska | 171 | 49.6°F | 25.0 in |
| New Hampshire | 52 | 44.5°F | 46.6 in |
| New Jersey | 45 | 53.6°F | 47.9 in |
| New Mexico | 167 | 54.3°F | 13.8 in |
| Nevada | 115 | 52.4°F | 8.9 in |
| New York | 173 | 47.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Ohio | 128 | 51.6°F | 41.1 in |
| Oklahoma | 159 | 60.3°F | 35.7 in |
| Oregon | 180 | 50.5°F | 37.6 in |
| Pennsylvania | 157 | 50.2°F | 45.2 in |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 51.2°F | 48.7 in |
| South Carolina | 100 | 62.8°F | 49.8 in |
| South Dakota | 149 | 45.6°F | 21.8 in |
| Tennessee | 146 | 58.0°F | 56.0 in |
| Texas | 449 | 66.2°F | 31.1 in |
| Utah | 170 | 49.4°F | 13.9 in |
| Virginia | 119 | 55.8°F | 46.0 in |
| Vermont | 41 | 43.5°F | 43.7 in |
| Washington | 149 | 49.9°F | 40.9 in |
| Wisconsin | 200 | 44.5°F | 34.6 in |
| West Virginia | 99 | 52.3°F | 47.6 in |
| Wyoming | 144 | 43.3°F | 14.0 in |
Derived by PlainClimate from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals · simple averages across each state's varying station-mapped-location cohort · data updated August 2026.
South Dakota Climate in Context
U.S. land-mean temperature anomaly (NOAA NCEI) tracked against global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP). Paris Agreement 1.5°C and 2.0°C thresholds shown as reference lines. South Dakota sits within this national warming envelope; individual station-mapped locations below show local readings against this trend.
- United States (incl. South Dakota) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Station-mapped locations in South Dakota
149 locations with climate data
Scroll the table to browse every location, or use the complete CSV and JSON exports below.
| Location | Avg Temp | High | Low | Precip | Snow | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 44°F | 56°F | 32°F | 21.8" | 42.7" | 49/100 |
| Academy | 48°F | 59°F | 37°F | 24.0" | 41.5" | 59/100 |
| Alexandria | 45°F | 57°F | 33°F | 25.3" | 36.3" | 59/100 |
| Andover | 44°F | 54°F | 34°F | 24.0" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Antelope Ranger Station | 43°F | 57°F | 30°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ardmore | 48°F | 64°F | 31°F | 18.1" | 44.1" | 49/100 |
| Arlington | 45°F | 55°F | 34°F | 26.2" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Armour | 49°F | 61°F | 37°F | 25.4" | 34.4" | 59/100 |
| Astoria | 42°F | 52°F | 33°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bear Ridge | 47°F | 61°F | 33°F | 24.2" | 114.2" | 54/100 |
| Belle Fourche | 48°F | 61°F | 35°F | 18.0" | 42.2" | 49/100 |
| Bison | 46°F | 58°F | 34°F | 18.1" | 39.7" | 49/100 |
| Bonesteel | 48°F | 59°F | 36°F | 25.9" | 37.2" | 59/100 |
| Bridgewater | 46°F | 57°F | 36°F | 27.9" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Britton | 42°F | 54°F | 31°F | 24.3" | 45.4" | 49/100 |
| Brookings | 43°F | 54°F | 33°F | 25.2" | 35.8" | 49/100 |
| Buffalo | 43°F | 57°F | 30°F | 16.9" | N/A | 40/100 |
| Camp Crook | 46°F | 60°F | 33°F | 15.8" | 50.5" | 44/100 |
| Canton | 46°F | 56°F | 35°F | 27.8" | 36.1" | 59/100 |
| Castlewood | 42°F | 52°F | 31°F | 24.8" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Cedar Butte | 49°F | 62°F | 36°F | 20.4" | 40.0" | 59/100 |
| Centerville | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 26.9" | 30.5" | 59/100 |
| Chamberlain | 47°F | 59°F | 35°F | 24.1" | 43.3" | 59/100 |
| Chamberlain Muni | 48°F | 60°F | 37°F | 20.4" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Clark | 43°F | 53°F | 33°F | 24.4" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Clear Lake | 42°F | 52°F | 32°F | 27.5" | 60.7" | 44/100 |
| Columbia | 43°F | 54°F | 32°F | 22.5" | 37.8" | 49/100 |
| Conde | 44°F | 55°F | 32°F | 24.1" | 28.0" | 49/100 |
| Cottonwood | 46°F | 60°F | 32°F | 17.4" | 38.2" | 49/100 |
| Custer | 45°F | 56°F | 34°F | 20.7" | 57.9" | 44/100 |
| Custer County | 43°F | 54°F | 32°F | 19.8" | N/A | 40/100 |
| De Smet | 44°F | 54°F | 34°F | 25.9" | 41.4" | 49/100 |
| Deadwood | 45°F | 58°F | 33°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Dupree | 48°F | 61°F | 35°F | 18.9" | 40.7" | 49/100 |
| Edgemont | 44°F | 61°F | 28°F | 16.1" | 36.2" | 39/100 |
| Elm Springs | 47°F | 60°F | 34°F | 18.6" | 36.7" | 49/100 |
| Eureka | 42°F | 53°F | 31°F | 20.3" | 44.3" | 49/100 |
| Faith | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 19.1" | 55.5" | 44/100 |
| Faith Muni | 46°F | 57°F | 34°F | 16.1" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Faulkton | 44°F | 56°F | 32°F | 22.0" | 43.7" | 49/100 |
| Flandreau | 43°F | 54°F | 33°F | 28.5" | 40.4" | 49/100 |
| Forestburg | 46°F | 58°F | 33°F | 24.6" | 26.3" | 59/100 |
| Fort Meade | 48°F | 60°F | 36°F | 21.3" | 47.6" | 59/100 |
| Fort Pierre | 48°F | 61°F | 34°F | 18.3" | 31.3" | 49/100 |
| Gann Valley | 45°F | 58°F | 33°F | 22.7" | 40.9" | 59/100 |
| Gettysburg | 44°F | 56°F | 33°F | 20.2" | 38.7" | 49/100 |
| Glad Valley | 44°F | 56°F | 32°F | 19.4" | 46.5" | 39/100 |
| Gregory | 47°F | 59°F | 35°F | 26.7" | 45.0" | 59/100 |
| Harrington | 48°F | 61°F | 35°F | 21.9" | 47.2" | 59/100 |
| Harrold | 44°F | 58°F | 31°F | 18.6" | 40.0" | 39/100 |
| Hereford | 47°F | 60°F | 34°F | 18.0" | 55.6" | 44/100 |
| Highmore | 46°F | 58°F | 34°F | 22.8" | 40.0" | 59/100 |
| Hill City | 44°F | 60°F | 28°F | 22.4" | 66.6" | 44/100 |
| Hoover | 44°F | 59°F | 29°F | 18.2" | 47.5" | 39/100 |
| Hot Springs | 49°F | 63°F | 34°F | 18.6" | 32.0" | 49/100 |
| Howard | 47°F | 60°F | 33°F | 26.4" | 35.8" | 59/100 |
| Huron Rgnl | 46°F | 57°F | 35°F | 23.3" | 44.4" | 59/100 |
| Interior | 50°F | 64°F | 37°F | 19.6" | 38.0" | 49/100 |
| Ipswich | 44°F | 55°F | 32°F | 20.2" | 33.7" | 49/100 |
| Johnson Siding | 45°F | 59°F | 31°F | 21.6" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Kennebec | 48°F | 61°F | 35°F | 20.8" | 39.6" | 59/100 |
| Kirley | 47°F | 59°F | 34°F | 19.9" | 40.9" | 49/100 |
| Kyle | 47°F | 61°F | 33°F | 21.6" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Ladner | 44°F | 55°F | 33°F | 18.5" | 45.7" | 39/100 |
| Lake Sharpe Prj | 47°F | 60°F | 34°F | 20.1" | 18.9" | 64/100 |
| Lead | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 31.8" | 183.9" | 54/100 |
| Lemmon | 46°F | 58°F | 33°F | 18.0" | 42.3" | 49/100 |
| Leola | 42°F | 54°F | 31°F | 21.8" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Lodgepole | 41°F | 55°F | 27°F | 16.9" | N/A | 40/100 |
| Longvalley | 49°F | 62°F | 36°F | 21.0" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Ludlow | 44°F | 56°F | 32°F | 17.1" | N/A | 40/100 |
| Madison | 45°F | 55°F | 34°F | 26.4" | 36.8" | 49/100 |
| Manderson | 48°F | 61°F | 36°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Martin | 47°F | 60°F | 35°F | 20.7" | 48.4" | 59/100 |
| Maurine | 45°F | 59°F | 31°F | 19.1" | 43.1" | 49/100 |
| McIntosh | 45°F | 57°F | 33°F | 17.3" | 43.3" | 49/100 |
| McLaughlin | 43°F | 56°F | 31°F | 20.1" | 34.9" | 49/100 |
| Mellette | 43°F | 55°F | 31°F | 23.0" | 43.4" | 49/100 |
| Menno | 48°F | 59°F | 37°F | 25.0" | 39.2" | 59/100 |
| Midland | 48°F | 62°F | 34°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Milbank | 43°F | 53°F | 33°F | 25.4" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Milesville | 48°F | 60°F | 35°F | 20.0" | 44.8" | 59/100 |
| Miller | 45°F | 56°F | 34°F | 22.3" | 43.7" | 59/100 |
| Mission | 48°F | 60°F | 35°F | 20.9" | 41.5" | 59/100 |
| Mission Ridge | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 17.4" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Mitchell | 48°F | 58°F | 38°F | 25.8" | 40.6" | 59/100 |
| Mitchell Muni | 48°F | 59°F | 37°F | 21.1" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Mobridge | 45°F | 56°F | 34°F | 17.3" | 36.3" | 39/100 |
| Mobridge Muni | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 18.0" | 31.0" | 49/100 |
| Montrose | 46°F | 57°F | 34°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mt Rushmore Nmem | 46°F | 55°F | 37°F | 24.1" | 59.3" | 54/100 |
| Murdo | 47°F | 58°F | 37°F | 21.6" | 49.1" | 59/100 |
| Newell | 46°F | 58°F | 33°F | 16.6" | 39.8" | 49/100 |
| Oahe Dam | 47°F | 60°F | 34°F | 19.3" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Oelrichs | 48°F | 62°F | 34°F | 17.9" | 43.8" | 49/100 |
| Oglala | 49°F | 62°F | 36°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Onida | 46°F | 58°F | 35°F | 21.1" | 48.8" | 59/100 |
| Oral | 47°F | 63°F | 32°F | 18.2" | 36.8" | 49/100 |
| Pactola Dam | 42°F | 55°F | 29°F | 21.5" | 60.9" | 44/100 |
| Philip | 48°F | 61°F | 34°F | 16.3" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Pickstown | 49°F | 60°F | 38°F | 24.4" | 31.3" | 59/100 |
| Pierre | 47°F | 58°F | 36°F | 19.6" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Pierre Rgnl | 47°F | 59°F | 35°F | 20.2" | 37.2" | 59/100 |
| Pine Ridge | 48°F | 62°F | 34°F | 16.6" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Plainview | 45°F | 59°F | 32°F | 17.1" | 42.5" | 49/100 |
| Pollock | 44°F | 56°F | 32°F | 17.8" | 39.0" | 39/100 |
| Porcupine | 47°F | 62°F | 32°F | 19.9" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Presho | 46°F | 59°F | 32°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ralph | 44°F | 58°F | 31°F | 16.2" | N/A | 40/100 |
| Rapid City | 46°F | 58°F | 34°F | 18.8" | 36.1" | 49/100 |
| Rapid City Rgnl | 47°F | 60°F | 34°F | 17.4" | 48.5" | 49/100 |
| Rauville | 43°F | 54°F | 32°F | 23.4" | 31.8" | 49/100 |
| Red Owl | 45°F | 58°F | 32°F | 18.9" | 47.5" | 39/100 |
| Redfield | 44°F | 55°F | 33°F | 22.8" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Redig | 45°F | 59°F | 32°F | 16.0" | 51.2" | 44/100 |
| Rochford | 39°F | 56°F | 22°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Roscoe | 43°F | 54°F | 32°F | 21.4" | 47.0" | 49/100 |
| Roy Lake | 44°F | 53°F | 34°F | 25.0" | 48.1" | 49/100 |
| Salem | 44°F | 56°F | 33°F | 26.9" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Selby | 44°F | 55°F | 33°F | 19.2" | 33.4" | 39/100 |
| Shadehill Rsvr | 44°F | 58°F | 31°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Sioux Falls | 47°F | 58°F | 37°F | 27.9" | 45.3" | 59/100 |
| Sisseton | 44°F | 54°F | 34°F | 25.4" | 48.0" | 49/100 |
| Sisseton Muni | 44°F | 55°F | 33°F | 22.9" | 36.3" | 49/100 |
| Spearfish | 47°F | 58°F | 35°F | 21.4" | 70.5" | 54/100 |
| Stephan | 45°F | 57°F | 32°F | 21.2" | 36.6" | 49/100 |
| Summit | 43°F | 54°F | 32°F | 25.7" | 58.6" | 44/100 |
| Timber Lake | 45°F | 57°F | 33°F | 19.4" | 41.2" | 49/100 |
| Turton | 44°F | 55°F | 33°F | 23.7" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Tyndall | 47°F | 59°F | 36°F | 26.2" | 36.6" | 59/100 |
| Vermillion | 49°F | 61°F | 37°F | 28.0" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Victor | 42°F | 53°F | 32°F | 25.8" | 49.3" | 49/100 |
| Wagner | 50°F | 61°F | 38°F | 26.3" | N/A | 64/100 |
| Wasta | 48°F | 62°F | 34°F | 17.6" | 30.4" | 49/100 |
| Watertown | 44°F | 54°F | 33°F | 24.6" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Watertown Rgnl | 43°F | 53°F | 33°F | 22.7" | 41.1" | 49/100 |
| Waubay Natl Wild Life | 44°F | 54°F | 35°F | 22.5" | 35.6" | 49/100 |
| Webster | 43°F | 52°F | 33°F | 26.1" | 42.8" | 49/100 |
| Wentworth | 46°F | 56°F | 36°F | 26.8" | 38.1" | 59/100 |
| Wessington Springs | 45°F | 56°F | 35°F | 25.7" | 44.5" | 59/100 |
| White Lake | 46°F | 57°F | 35°F | 23.9" | 37.7" | 59/100 |
| Wilmot | 43°F | 54°F | 33°F | 24.6" | 51.0" | 44/100 |
| Wind Cave | 47°F | 61°F | 34°F | 21.2" | 45.9" | 59/100 |
| Winfred | 44°F | 55°F | 34°F | 26.0" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Winner | 50°F | 62°F | 37°F | 23.2" | 49.1" | 59/100 |
| Winner Wiley Fld | 50°F | 62°F | 39°F | 19.4" | N/A | 52/100 |
| Wood | 47°F | 60°F | 35°F | 20.5" | 50.3" | 54/100 |
| Yankton | 49°F | 60°F | 37°F | 28.7" | 38.1" | 59/100 |
| Zeona | 45°F | 58°F | 32°F | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 · 1991-2020 Statewide aggregates for South Dakota computed as the simple average across its 149 station-mapped locations, each represented by its primary NOAA station (277 stations in the state network).
Climate Insight: South Dakota
South Dakota's climate profile is aggregated from 149 station-mapped locations and 277 NOAA weather stations reporting under the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals program. The statewide average annual temperature sits at 46°F, which is the simple average across all tracked station-mapped locations rather than any single station's reading. Because South Dakota spans multiple latitudes, elevations, and proximities to large water bodies, local conditions can differ from this headline number by wide margins; coastal, valley, and mountain stations often diverge by ten degrees or more even within a single month.
Precipitation and snowfall averages round out the climatological picture. Across South Dakota, annual precipitation averages 21.8 inches, with typical seasonal snowfall near 44.2 inches statewide. These numbers combine rain, sleet, and snow water-equivalent and describe the thirty-year normal rather than any particular recent year. Readers evaluating a specific destination should drill into one of the 149 individual location profiles below; each station record varies with local geography, and the statewide figures here are averages that mask meaningful intrastate differences.
For planning purposes, the location table above is sorted to help you compare averages side-by-side: annual mean temperature, average daily high and low, precipitation totals, snowfall, and PlainClimate's climate comfort score. That 1–100 score combines temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, snowfall burden, and frost-free growing-season length from each location's NOAA normal. It is a climate-only comparison, not a NOAA or overall livability rating. Use it as a starting point, then open each location profile for the exact score inputs, monthly breakdowns, degree-day totals, frost dates, and separately reported humidity metrics.
Nationwide similar states
Other states closest to South Dakota on two NOAA statewide-average axes (annual temperature and annual precipitation). Chip rows use distinct link sets.
Closest by average temperature
Nearest 50-state peers by avg_temp (46°F here).
- Michigan 46°F · 0.1°F off
- Idaho 46°F · 0.5°F off
- Colorado 46°F · 0.7°F off
- New Hampshire 45°F · 1.1°F off
Closest by annual precipitation
Nearest peers by avg_precip (21.8" here), excluding temperature-peer codes.
- California 21.6" · 0.2" off
- North Dakota 19.2" · 2.6" off
- Nebraska 25.0" · 3.2" off
- Montana 15.9" · 5.9" off
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in South Dakota? ▼
Does the climate vary a lot within South Dakota? ▼
Where does South Dakota rank nationally for temperature? ▼
What is the most comfortable station-mapped location in South Dakota? ▼
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.