Valley, ND climate
Valley has cold winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to -1°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Valley feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Valley 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° | 0.5" | -5° – 24° |
| February | 23° | 3° | 0.5" | -2° – 26° |
| March | 36° | 17° | 0.9" | 15° – 41° |
| April | 54° | 30° | 1.3" | 32° – 49° |
| May | 68° | 42° | 3.1" | 50° – 62° |
| June | 77° | 54° | 3.7" | 59° – 70° |
| July | 82° | 58° | 3.4" | 63° – 75° |
| August | 80° | 55° | 2.6" | 62° – 72° |
| September | 71° | 46° | 2.5" | 53° – 63° |
| October | 55° | 33° | 1.9" | 36° – 49° |
| November | 38° | 19° | 0.7" | 15° – 40° |
| December | 24° | 6° | 0.7" | 2° – 24° |
| Year | 52° | 30° | 21.7" |
“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 Valley
Valley gets 22 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest.
About 136 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 13 and the first one by September 26. That leaves about 136 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 92% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Valley
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Valley, 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.
How Valley 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 Valley averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.6°). The shift is larger than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Valley’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 24°. August is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Valley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Valley?
January, with a typical high of 18° and a low of -1°.
What is the hottest month in Valley?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 58°. About 10 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Valley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 26, and the last spring frost by May 13.
What is the rainiest month in Valley?
June, with 3.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 22 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Valley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Valley City 3 Nnw, ND (2 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.