Knife River has cold, snowy winters and cool summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 76°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 61 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Knife River at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Knife River’s climate
Read from where Knife River sits among Minnesota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in Knife River feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
61 inches of snow, 30 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 128 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 145 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 12 and the first by October 6.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Knife River’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
145 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 12 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 6.
About 61" a winter over 20 days with an inch or more, most in December.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through May. Heating is 98% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 1 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 76°.
The nicest months are June, July, August and September. 0.6 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Knife River and its neighbors
Duluth has the coldest January nights next door (1°) and Duluth the hottest July afternoons (77°). 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 Knife River averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°).
A bigger shift than in 69% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Knife River compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Minnesota.
Knife River 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 | 21° | 5° | 1.0" | 12.4" | 10 | 0° – 25° |
| February | 26° | 7° | 0.9" | 13.6" | 9 | 5° – 30° |
| March | 36° | 18° | 1.5" | 9.1" | 9 | 18° – 38° |
| April | 47° | 28° | 2.5" | 4.3" | 10 | 32° – 44° |
| May | 59° | 38° | 3.2" | 0 | 13 | 45° – 53° |
| June | 69° | 47° | 4.2" | 0 | 13 | 55° – 61° |
| July | 76° | 55° | 3.8" | 0 | 12 | 60° – 71° |
| August | 74° | 55° | 3.4" | 0 | 11 | 59° – 68° |
| September | 66° | 47° | 3.3" | 0 | 12 | 50° – 61° |
| October | 52° | 36° | 3.0" | 0.2" | 12 | 38° – 48° |
| November | 38° | 24° | 1.9" | 5.9" | 9 | 22° – 40° |
| December | 26° | 11° | 1.4" | 15.5" | 10 | 7° – 28° |
| Year | 49° | 31° | 29.9" | 61.0" | 128 |
Heating and cooling a home in Knife River
98% 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 0° to 25°. June is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Knife River’s climate
What is the coldest month in Knife River?
January, with a typical high of 21° and a low of 5°.
What is the hottest month in Knife River?
July, with a typical high of 76° and a low of 55°. About 1 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Knife River get?
About 61 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Knife River?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 6, and the last spring frost by May 12.
What is the rainiest month in Knife River?
June, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 30 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Knife River.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Knife River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Two Harbors, MN (8 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.