SDSouth Dakota rankings

Towns with the least snow in South Dakota

Ranked by average snowfall in a normal winter, 1991–2020, at the nearest NOAA weather station, among towns that get at least an inch a year. Towns that share a station share its figure and its rank (T = tied). 37 towns with 2,500+ residents that get at least an inch of snow a year.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

#TownSnow a yearDays with 1"+ of snowWeather station
1 Hot Springs Hot Springs3,548 people 32 in 13 Hot Springs, SD
2 Milbank Milbank3,525 people 32 in 9 Big Stone City 2 Nw, SD
3 Brookings23,948 people 36 in 13 Brookings 2 Ne, SD
T4 Big SiouxUnion County · 4,917 people 36 in 11 Sioux City Gateway Airport, IA
T4 Dakota Dunes3,936 people 36 in 11 Sioux City Gateway Airport, IA
T4 Map of North Sioux City North Sioux City3,045 people 36 in 11 Sioux City Gateway Airport, IA
T7 Rapid City Rapid City77,946 people 36 in 14 Rapid City 4nw, SD
T7 Canton Canton3,033 people 36 in 13 Canton, SD
T7 Map of Summerset Summerset3,022 people 36 in 14 Rapid City 4nw, SD
T7 Map of Blackhawk Blackhawk2,934 people 36 in 14 Rapid City 4nw, SD
T7 Map of Colonial Pine Hills Colonial Pine Hills2,609 people 36 in 14 Rapid City 4nw, SD
T12 Vermillion Vermillion11,878 people 36 in 12 Newcastle, NE
T12 Elk Point Elk Point2,537 people 36 in 12 Newcastle, NE
14 Mobridge Mobridge2,932 people 36 in 12 Mobridge 2nnw, SD
15 Madison Madison6,094 people 37 in 13 Madison 2se, SD
16 Pierre Pierre13,948 people 37 in 12 Pierre Rgnl Airport, SD
17 Yankton Yankton15,540 people 38 in 13 Yankton 2 E, SD
T18 Dell Rapids Dell Rapids3,905 people 40 in 12 Colton, SD
T18 Map of Hartford Hartford3,478 people 40 in 12 Colton, SD
20 Map of Mitchell Mitchell15,649 people 41 in 12 Mitchell, SD
21 Watertown Watertown23,044 people 41 in 13 Watertown Rgnl Airport, SD
22 Belle Fourche Belle Fourche5,804 people 42 in 12 Belle Fourche, SD
23 Map of Aberdeen Aberdeen28,189 people 43 in 13 Aberdeen, SD
24 Map of Chamberlain Chamberlain2,588 people 43 in 16 Chamberlain 5 S, SD
25 Map of Huron Huron14,385 people 44 in 13 Huron Rgnl Airport, SD
26 Sturgis Sturgis7,086 people 48 in 12 Ft Meade, SD
27 Sisseton Sisseton2,670 people 48 in 14 Sisseton, SD
T28 Box Elder Box Elder12,902 people 49 in 15 Rapid City Rgnl Airport, SD
T28 Rapid Valley Rapid Valley6,975 people 49 in 15 Rapid City Rgnl Airport, SD
T30 Map of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls201,469 people 49 in 14 Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese, SD
T30 Map of Brandon Brandon10,996 people 49 in 14 Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese, SD
T30 Map of Harrisburg Harrisburg8,519 people 49 in 14 Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese, SD
T30 Map of Tea Tea6,786 people 49 in 14 Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese, SD
T30 Split RockMinnehaha County · 3,143 people 49 in 14 Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese, SD
35 Map of Winner Winner2,905 people 49 in 15 Winner, SD
36 Spearfish Spearfish12,930 people 71 in 18 Spearfish, SD
37 Lead Lead3,006 people 184 in 40 Lead, SD

How this ranking works

We rank every town by average snowfall in a normal winter, 1991–2020, at the nearest NOAA weather station, among towns that get at least an inch a year. The town with the lowest figure ranks #1. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast, and each town’s Climate page shows its whole year month by month.

Snow and frost are measured at weather stations, and each town uses the nearest NOAA station with a matching climate (within 25 miles, with temperatures that agree with the town’s own). Towns near the same station share its figure, so they tie.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states