South Harbor, MN climate
South Harbor has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in South Harbor feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
South Harbor 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 | 20° | 2° | 0.7" | 8.1" | 5 | -1° – 25° |
| February | 26° | 5° | 0.8" | 5.2" | 5 | 4° – 30° |
| March | 38° | 18° | 1.4" | 7.4" | 7 | 19° – 42° |
| April | 53° | 30° | 2.4" | 2.1" | 9 | 32° – 50° |
| May | 66° | 43° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 49° – 61° |
| June | 75° | 53° | 4.5" | 0 | 10 | 60° – 68° |
| July | 80° | 58° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 62° – 74° |
| August | 78° | 55° | 3.9" | 0 | 8 | 61° – 70° |
| September | 69° | 48° | 3.1" | 0 | 8 | 51° – 64° |
| October | 55° | 36° | 2.9" | 0.3" | 8 | 38° – 50° |
| November | 38° | 23° | 1.4" | 4.5" | 5 | 21° – 41° |
| December | 25° | 10° | 0.9" | 4.0" | 5 | 5° – 26° |
| Year | 52° | 31° | 30.2" | 31.6" | 89 |
“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 South Harbor
South Harbor gets 30 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 89 days a year.
About 144 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 10 and the first one by October 3. That leaves about 144 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 85% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in South Harbor
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In South Harbor, 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.
South Harbor and its neighbors
South Harbor borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.0°. Wealthwood has the coldest January nights (1°) and Onamia the hottest July afternoons (80°). South Harbor’s January low is 2° and its July high 80°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How South Harbor 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 South Harbor averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+4.1°). The shift is larger than in 89% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at South Harbor’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 -1° to 25°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about South Harbor’s climate
What is the coldest month in South Harbor?
January, with a typical high of 20° and a low of 2°.
What is the hottest month in South Harbor?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 58°. About 2 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does South Harbor get?
About 32 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in South Harbor?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 3, and the last spring frost by May 10.
What is the rainiest month in South Harbor?
June, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 30 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for South Harbor itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Onamia Rs, MN (5 mi, snow) and Isle 12n, MN (14 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.