North Dakota Climate and Average Weather
Climate of North Dakota: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in North Dakota month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 7° | 0,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 32° | 13° | 0,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 45° | 22° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 54° | 33° | 2,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 67° | 46° | 3,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 74° | 55° | 3,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 84° | 64° | 2,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 80° | 60° | 3,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 75° | 55° | 1,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 59° | 40° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 41° | 25° | 0,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 31° | 14° | 0,9 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in North Dakota
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How North Dakota compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against North Dakota.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 170 mi | 50°F | +37°F warmer | 21 in |
| Badlands National Park | 218 mi | 51°F | +38°F warmer | 15 in |
| Mount Rushmore | 240 mi | 46°F | about the same | 23 in |
| Custer State Park | 246 mi | 47°F | +34°F warmer | 23 in |
| Wind Cave National Park | 257 mi | 49°F | +36°F warmer | 20 in |
Climate by national park in North Dakota
1 national parks mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit North Dakota
Go in June, July and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for North Dakota
Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 56°F is 2.9°F below the 59°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 91°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
North Dakota is a state in United States. North Dakota is a US state with its capital at Bismarck. It has a population of about 780.000. The capital is Bismarck.
Right now it is 40°F (5°C) in North Dakota with fog. It feels like 37°F. Today runs from 37°F to 56°F. Chance of precipitation is 3%. Sightseeing conditions score 8/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit North Dakota is June, July and September. The climate is subarctic. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 84°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 7°F.
Nearby highlights include Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for October. The forecast high of 56°F is 2.9°F below the 59°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 3 PM to 6 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. running is the strongest bet in North Dakota today at 9.8/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about North Dakota
| Type | State |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 46°48′29.9″N 100°47′1.3″W (46.8083, -100.7837) |
| Capital | Bismarck |
| Population | 780.000 |
| Area | 70.698 sq mi |
| Abbreviation | ND |
| Time zone | America/Chicago |
| Local time | 12:14 PM (UTC-05:00) |
| Best months | June, July and September |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Weather map for North Dakota
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore North Dakota
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is North Dakota?
North Dakota is a state in United States. Its coordinates are 46.8083, -100.7837. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in North Dakota right now?
It is currently 40°F (5°C) with fog. Humidity is 99% and wind is 1 mph.
When is the best time to visit North Dakota?
June, July and September offer the most comfortable conditions in North Dakota, which has a subarctic climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is North Dakota in?
North Dakota observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 12:14 PM.
How many people live in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a population of approximately 780.000.
What are the top things to do in North Dakota?
Popular options include Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.
What places are in North Dakota?
North Dakota covers 1 places in this atlas, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (us-states) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 28, 2026 at 12:14 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
