North Dakota has a temperate climate with warm summers and freezing winters.
North Dakota has an average annual temperature of 43.5°F across all 4 cities, with approximately 541 mm of annual precipitation and average humidity of 71%. Temperatures peak in July and drop to their lowest in January, while rainfall is highest during summer months.
The warmest city is Bismarck with average July highs of 98.1°F, while Grand Forks is the coldest with average January lows of -28.7°F. Humidity remains moderate throughout the year, especially during winter months, creating cold and damp conditions. These seasonal patterns make summer ideal for outdoor activities, while winters bring freezing conditions and heavy snowfall.
| Month | 🌤️ | High | Low | Avg | Humid % | Rain (mm) | Wind (m/s) | Solar (kWh/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ❄️ | 38.1°F | -23.4°F | 7.3°F | 90% | 16 | 3.7 | 1.70 |
| February | ❄️ | 45.3°F | -18.4°F | 13.5°F | 84% | 15 | 3.8 | 2.80 |
| March | ❄️ | 63.1°F | -1.8°F | 30.7°F | 72% | 25 | 4.1 | 3.90 |
| April | 🌤️ | 77.5°F | 17.6°F | 47.7°F | 63% | 41 | 3.9 | 4.90 |
| May | 🌤️ | 85.6°F | 29.1°F | 57.4°F | 61% | 75 | 3.6 | 5.80 |
| June | ⛅ | 91.2°F | 43.3°F | 67.3°F | 63% | 94 | 3.2 | 6.30 |
| July | 😎 | 96.3°F | 50.2°F | 73.2°F | 60% | 75 | 2.8 | 6.40 |
| August | 😎 | 95.7°F | 47.7°F | 71.8°F | 60% | 62 | 2.9 | 5.40 |
| September | ☀️ | 90.1°F | 34.3°F | 62.2°F | 62% | 52 | 3.3 | 4.00 |
| October | 🌤️ | 77.0°F | 20.7°F | 48.7°F | 69% | 45 | 3.6 | 2.60 |
| November | ❄️ | 56.8°F | 4.3°F | 30.6°F | 78% | 21 | 3.6 | 1.60 |
| December | ❄️ | 39.9°F | -14.3°F | 12.7°F | 86% | 19 | 3.6 | 1.20 |
Showing average climate conditions across 45 years (1981–2025) · averaged across all 4 cities in North Dakota
🧥 Pack heavy layers and prepare for snow — this is a Severe Winter destination.
🌤️ Limit midday outdoor exposure and stay hydrated — this is an intense Hot Summer.
☔ Moderate Rainfall expected — carry rain gear and plan outdoor activities around these months.
Region-wide monthly averages across 4 cities · 1981–2025 · °F
Temperatures rise steadily from spring, peak in July, and gradually decline through autumn into winter.
These seasonal patterns make summer ideal for outdoor activities, while winters bring freezing conditions and heavy snowfall.
Region-wide monthly rainfall · 1981–2025 · mm/month
💧 Humidity peaks at 90% in January · annual avg 71%
Monthly averages · 1981–2025
Across 45 years, North Dakota's temperature has remained relatively stable over the past decade. 2012 was the warmest year overall and 1996 the coolest.
The warmest year on record was 2012 (avg: 48.2°F), while the coldest year was 1996 (avg: 37.6°F).
Averaged across all 4 cities in North Dakota · Last 30 years · °F
Averaged across all 4 cities in North Dakota · Last 30 years · mm/year
🔥 hottest · ❄️ coldest · 🌧️ wettest
ℹ️ Values are averages across all 4 cities in North Dakota for each year.
| Year | Min Temp | Avg Temp | Max Temp | Rainfall (mm) | Avg Humidity | Avg Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | 16.7°F | 45.0°F | 73.2°F | 603 | 70% | 3.5 m/s |
2024 | 20.3°F | 47.1°F | 73.9°F | 576 | 69% | 3.5 m/s |
2023 | 18.9°F | 45.7°F | 72.5°F | 503 | 73% | 3.3 m/s |
2022 | 12.4°F | 41.7°F | 70.9°F | 590 | 73% | 3.7 m/s |
2021 🔥 | 18.3°F | 47.1°F | 75.9°F | 461 | 64% | 3.6 m/s |
2020 | 16.3°F | 43.7°F | 70.9°F | 415 | 71% | 3.5 m/s |
2019 🌧️ | 12.4°F | 39.9°F | 67.3°F | 718 | 77% | 3.4 m/s |
2018 | 15.4°F | 43.2°F | 70.7°F | 509 | 70% | 3.4 m/s |
2017 | 16.3°F | 44.2°F | 72.0°F | 412 | 68% | 3.6 m/s |
2016 | 19.0°F | 46.0°F | 72.9°F | 616 | 71% | 3.6 m/s |
Showing 1 to 10 of 45 years
All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources), a NASA project providing solar and meteorological data for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural research.
