Silver Lake Colony has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Silver Lake Colony at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Silver Lake Colony’s climate
Read from where Silver Lake Colony sits among South Dakota’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in Silver Lake Colony feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 153 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 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
41 inches of snow, 25 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 96 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with Silver Lake Colony’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
153 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 5 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 41" a winter over 13 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 93 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 94% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 9 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Silver Lake Colony averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.0°).
A smaller shift than in 59% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Silver Lake Colony compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in South Dakota.
Silver Lake Colony 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 | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21° | 3° | 0.6" | 6.7" | 6 | 26 | 0° – 26° |
| February | 26° | 7° | 0.7" | 8.9" | 6 | 21 | 3° – 29° |
| March | 39° | 20° | 1.1" | 5.4" | 7 | 15 | 19° – 43° |
| April | 54° | 32° | 2.2" | 5.2" | 9 | 4 | 33° – 51° |
| May | 67° | 44° | 3.3" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| June | 77° | 55° | 4.1" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| July | 82° | 60° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 62° – 77° |
| August | 80° | 58° | 2.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 72° | 48° | 2.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 53° – 66° |
| October | 57° | 35° | 2.2" | 1.4" | 8 | 1 | 38° – 51° |
| November | 40° | 21° | 0.8" | 4.5" | 5 | 5 | 19° – 41° |
| December | 27° | 9° | 0.7" | 8.9" | 6 | 22 | 4° – 25° |
| Year | 53° | 33° | 24.7" | 41.1" | 96 | 93 |
Heating and cooling a home in Silver Lake Colony
94% 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 0° to 26°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Silver Lake Colony’s climate
What is the coldest month in Silver Lake Colony?
January, with a typical high of 21° and a low of 3°.
What is the hottest month in Silver Lake Colony?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 60°. About 9 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Silver Lake Colony get?
About 41 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Silver Lake Colony?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 5.
What is the rainiest month in Silver Lake Colony?
June, with 4.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 25 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Silver Lake Colony.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Silver Lake Colony itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Watertown Rgnl Airport, SD (23 mi, snow) and Clark, SD (6 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.