Shell River, MN climate
Shell River has cold winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to -1°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Shell River feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Shell River weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | -1° | 0.6" | -5° – 23° |
| February | 24° | 2° | 0.6" | 1° – 28° |
| March | 37° | 17° | 1.1" | 16° – 40° |
| April | 52° | 30° | 2.0" | 32° – 49° |
| May | 66° | 43° | 3.2" | 49° – 61° |
| June | 75° | 53° | 4.3" | 59° – 68° |
| July | 79° | 58° | 3.9" | 61° – 74° |
| August | 77° | 55° | 2.9" | 60° – 70° |
| September | 69° | 47° | 2.9" | 51° – 64° |
| October | 54° | 35° | 2.6" | 36° – 49° |
| November | 37° | 21° | 1.0" | 19° – 40° |
| December | 23° | 7° | 0.7" | 1° – 25° |
| Year | 51° | 31° | 25.8" |
“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 Shell River
Shell River gets 26 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest.
About 133 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 14 and the first one by September 25. That leaves about 133 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 93% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Shell River
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Shell River, 96% of that work is heating and 4% 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.
Shell River and its neighbors
Shell River borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.7°. Blueberry has the coldest January nights (-1°) and Meadow the hottest July afternoons (79°). Shell River’s January low is -1° and its July high 79°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Shell River 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 Shell River averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.1°). The shift is larger than in 87% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Shell River’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 -5° to 23°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Shell River’s climate
What is the coldest month in Shell River?
January, with a typical high of 18° and a low of -1°.
What is the hottest month in Shell River?
July, with a typical high of 79° and a low of 58°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Shell River?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 25, and the last spring frost by May 14.
What is the rainiest month in Shell River?
June, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 26 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Shell River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Park Rapids Municipal Airport, MN (10 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.