Waubay, SD climate
Waubay has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 1°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Waubay feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Waubay 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 | 20° | 1° | 0.7" | 6.6" | 6 | 28 | -3° – 23° |
| February | 25° | 5° | 0.7" | 6.0" | 4 | 24 | 1° – 26° |
| March | 37° | 18° | 1.0" | 5.5" | 5 | 17 | 18° – 42° |
| April | 53° | 30° | 2.0" | 5.0" | 6 | 4 | 31° – 50° |
| May | 66° | 43° | 3.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 62° |
| June | 76° | 54° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 60° – 69° |
| July | 81° | 59° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 61° – 76° |
| August | 79° | 57° | 2.6" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 63° – 71° |
| September | 71° | 47° | 2.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 53° – 64° |
| October | 55° | 34° | 2.3" | 1.2" | 7 | 0 | 36° – 49° |
| November | 39° | 20° | 0.8" | 5.0" | 5 | 7 | 17° – 40° |
| December | 25° | 8° | 0.7" | 6.3" | 6 | 22 | 2° – 24° |
| Year | 52° | 31° | 23.8" | 35.6" | 81 | 102 |
“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 Waubay
Waubay gets 24 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 81 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 102 days of the year.
About 164 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 1 and the first one by October 12. That leaves about 164 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 67% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Waubay
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Waubay, 93% of that work is heating and 7% 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.
Waubay and its neighbors
Waubay borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.3°. Central Point has both the coldest January nights (1°) and the hottest July afternoons (81°). Waubay’s January low is 1° and its July high 81°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Waubay 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 Waubay averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 68% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Waubay’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 -3° to 23°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Waubay’s climate
What is the coldest month in Waubay?
January, with a typical high of 20° and a low of 1°.
What is the hottest month in Waubay?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 59°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Waubay get?
About 36 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Waubay?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 12, and the last spring frost by May 1.
What is the rainiest month in Waubay?
June, with 3.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 24 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Waubay itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Waubay Natl Wild Life, SD (6 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.