Richland has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Richland at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Richland’s climate
Read from where Richland sits among South Dakota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
31 inches of snow, 27 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 71 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
What a year in Richland feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 144 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 7 and the first by September 29.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Richland’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
144 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 7 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 29.
About 31" a winter over 10 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 13 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 84°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 1.3 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 →Richland and its neighbors
Brookfield has the coldest January nights next door (7°) and Salem the hottest July afternoons (84°). 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 Richland averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.7°).
A smaller shift than in 83% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Richland compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in South Dakota.
Richland 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 | 26° | 7° | 0.5" | 5.1" | 4 | 6° – 31° |
| February | 31° | 11° | 0.8" | 6.1" | 3 | 8° – 33° |
| March | 43° | 23° | 1.3" | 3.8" | 5 | 24° – 50° |
| April | 57° | 34° | 2.8" | 3.6" | 7 | 36° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 46° | 3.8" | 0.1" | 10 | 53° – 65° |
| June | 79° | 57° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 64° – 73° |
| July | 84° | 61° | 3.2" | 0 | 7 | 64° – 80° |
| August | 81° | 59° | 3.3" | 0 | 7 | 64° – 74° |
| September | 74° | 50° | 3.0" | 0.1" | 7 | 55° – 67° |
| October | 60° | 37° | 2.2" | 0.8" | 5 | 41° – 53° |
| November | 44° | 23° | 1.0" | 3.1" | 4 | 23° – 44° |
| December | 30° | 12° | 0.7" | 8.3" | 3 | 8° – 27° |
| Year | 56° | 35° | 26.6" | 31.0" | 71 |
Heating and cooling a home in Richland
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. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 24° to 50°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Richland’s climate
What is the coldest month in Richland?
January, with a typical high of 26° and a low of 7°.
What is the hottest month in Richland?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 61°. About 13 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Richland get?
About 31 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Richland?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 29, and the last spring frost by May 7.
What is the rainiest month in Richland?
June, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 27 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Richland.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Richland itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Montrose, SD (7 mi, snow) and Salem 5ne, SD (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. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.