Minidoka, ID climate
Minidoka has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 21 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Minidoka feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Minidoka weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 18° | 1.2" | 6.7" | 9 | 16° – 35° |
| February | 40° | 21° | 0.8" | 4.2" | 7 | 20° – 38° |
| March | 51° | 27° | 0.9" | 1.2" | 6 | 33° – 44° |
| April | 59° | 32° | 1.0" | 0.5" | 7 | 41° – 50° |
| May | 69° | 40° | 1.4" | 0 | 7 | 48° – 60° |
| June | 78° | 47° | 0.8" | 0 | 4 | 57° – 69° |
| July | 89° | 53° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 61° – 76° |
| August | 87° | 51° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 64° – 73° |
| September | 77° | 43° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 56° – 64° |
| October | 63° | 33° | 0.8" | 0.7" | 5 | 39° – 55° |
| November | 47° | 24° | 0.8" | 2.6" | 6 | 27° – 43° |
| December | 35° | 18° | 1.2" | 4.6" | 8 | 20° – 32° |
| Year | 61° | 34° | 10.1" | 20.5" | 66 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Minidoka
Minidoka gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 66 days a year.
About 136 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 16 and the first one by October 1. That leaves about 136 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 92% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Minidoka
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Minidoka, 92% of that work is heating and 8% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Minidoka compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Minidoka averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.0°). The shift is larger than in 87% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Minidoka’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 16° to 35°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Minidoka’s climate
What is the coldest month in Minidoka?
January, with a typical high of 35° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Minidoka?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 53°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Minidoka get?
About 21 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Minidoka?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 1, and the last spring frost by May 16.
What is the rainiest month in Minidoka?
May, with 1.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Minidoka itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Minidoka Dam, ID (5 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.