Fish Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 44 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Fish Lake at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Fish Lake’s climate
Read from where Fish Lake sits among Minnesota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
Living with Fish Lake’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
162 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 30 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 10.
About 44" a winter over 17 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 95 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 90% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 13 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →What a year in Fish Lake feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
44 inches of snow, 32 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 106 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 162 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 30 and the first by October 10.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Fish Lake and its neighbors
Christiania has the coldest January nights next door (6°) and Christiania the hottest July afternoons (82°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Fish Lake averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.5°).
A smaller shift than in 59% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Fish Lake compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Minnesota.
Fish Lake 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 | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 6° | 0.8" | 8.4" | 7 | 28 | 2° – 27° |
| February | 28° | 10° | 0.8" | 9.0" | 7 | 23 | 8° – 31° |
| March | 40° | 22° | 1.7" | 7.3" | 8 | 14 | 22° – 46° |
| April | 56° | 34° | 3.2" | 4.2" | 10 | 2 | 33° – 53° |
| May | 68° | 46° | 4.6" | 0.1" | 12 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 78° | 57° | 4.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| July | 82° | 61° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 63° – 78° |
| August | 79° | 58° | 3.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 73° | 50° | 3.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54° – 66° |
| October | 59° | 37° | 2.4" | 0.9" | 8 | 0 | 41° – 53° |
| November | 42° | 24° | 1.5" | 5.2" | 6 | 6 | 22° – 44° |
| December | 28° | 12° | 1.0" | 8.4" | 8 | 22 | 5° – 26° |
| Year | 55° | 35° | 31.7" | 43.5" | 106 | 95 |
Heating and cooling a home in Fish Lake
90% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. January swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 2° to 27°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Fish Lake’s climate
What is the coldest month in Fish Lake?
January, with a typical high of 23° and a low of 6°.
What is the hottest month in Fish Lake?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 61°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Fish Lake get?
About 44 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Fish Lake?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 10, and the last spring frost by April 30.
What is the rainiest month in Fish Lake?
June, with 4.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 32 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Fish Lake.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Fish Lake itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Windom, MN (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.