Swede Prairie has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Swede Prairie at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Swede Prairie’s climate
Read from where Swede Prairie sits among Minnesota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
About 156 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 2 and the first by October 5.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
What a year in Swede Prairie feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
45 inches of snow, 28 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 68 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with Swede Prairie’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
156 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 2 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 5.
About 45" a winter over 13 days with an inch or more, most in December.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 93% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 15 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 0.0 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 →Swede Prairie and its neighbors
Tyro has the coldest January nights next door (5°) and Westerheim the hottest July afternoons (83°). 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 Swede Prairie averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°).
A smaller shift than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Swede Prairie compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Minnesota.
Swede Prairie 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° | 5° | 0.6" | 7.9" | 4 | 1° – 27° |
| February | 28° | 9° | 0.7" | 9.2" | 4 | 6° – 30° |
| March | 40° | 22° | 1.4" | 7.6" | 5 | 21° – 45° |
| April | 56° | 34° | 2.6" | 4.0" | 7 | 34° – 53° |
| May | 70° | 46° | 3.5" | 0.2" | 9 | 53° – 65° |
| June | 79° | 57° | 4.3" | 0 | 9 | 64° – 72° |
| July | 83° | 61° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 64° – 78° |
| August | 81° | 58° | 3.6" | 0 | 7 | 64° – 74° |
| September | 74° | 50° | 3.0" | 0 | 6 | 55° – 67° |
| October | 59° | 37° | 2.3" | 0.7" | 5 | 41° – 53° |
| November | 42° | 24° | 1.2" | 5.0" | 3 | 22° – 45° |
| December | 28° | 12° | 0.8" | 10.0" | 4 | 5° – 28° |
| Year | 55° | 35° | 27.5" | 44.6" | 68 |
Heating and cooling a home in Swede Prairie
93% 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 1° to 27°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Swede Prairie’s climate
What is the coldest month in Swede Prairie?
January, with a typical high of 23° and a low of 5°.
What is the hottest month in Swede Prairie?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 61°. About 15 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Swede Prairie get?
About 45 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Swede Prairie?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 2.
What is the rainiest month in Swede Prairie?
June, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 28 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Swede Prairie.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Swede Prairie 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 Canby, MN (18 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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.