Island Lake, MN climate
Island Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Island Lake feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Island 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 6° | 0.6" | 7.9" | 4 | 2° – 27° |
| February | 28° | 10° | 0.8" | 9.2" | 4 | 6° – 30° |
| March | 40° | 22° | 1.5" | 7.6" | 5 | 21° – 45° |
| April | 55° | 33° | 2.8" | 4.0" | 7 | 32° – 52° |
| May | 68° | 46° | 3.6" | 0.2" | 9 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 78° | 57° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 62° – 71° |
| July | 82° | 60° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 63° – 78° |
| August | 80° | 58° | 3.5" | 0 | 7 | 64° – 73° |
| September | 73° | 50° | 3.2" | 0 | 6 | 54° – 66° |
| October | 58° | 37° | 2.3" | 0.7" | 5 | 40° – 53° |
| November | 41° | 23° | 1.2" | 5.0" | 3 | 21° – 44° |
| December | 28° | 12° | 0.8" | 10.0" | 4 | 5° – 27° |
| Year | 54° | 34° | 28.7" | 44.6" | 68 |
“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 Island Lake
Island Lake gets 29 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 68 days a year.
About 150 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 and the first one by October 3. That leaves about 150 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Island Lake
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Island Lake, 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.
Island Lake and its neighbors
Island Lake borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.4°. Nordland has the coldest January nights (6°) and Lynd the hottest July afternoons (83°). Island Lake’s January low is 6° and its July high 82°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Island Lake 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 Island Lake averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°). The shift is smaller than in 59% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Island Lake’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 2° to 27°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Island Lake’s climate
What is the coldest month in Island Lake?
January, with a typical high of 23° and a low of 6°.
What is the hottest month in Island Lake?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 60°. About 18 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Island Lake get?
About 45 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Island Lake?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 3, and the last spring frost by May 5.
What is the rainiest month in Island Lake?
June, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 29 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Island Lake itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Minneota, MN (10 mi, snow) and Marshall, MN (11 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.