White Rock, SD climate
White Rock has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in White Rock feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
White Rock 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 | 20° | 2° | 0.7" | 4.9" | 5 | -3° – 25° |
| February | 25° | 6° | 0.7" | 9.0" | 5 | 3° – 27° |
| March | 38° | 20° | 1.1" | 5.4" | 5 | 18° – 42° |
| April | 55° | 33° | 2.2" | 4.4" | 8 | 33° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 45° | 3.0" | 0 | 10 | 53° – 65° |
| June | 78° | 56° | 3.9" | 0 | 10 | 62° – 71° |
| July | 82° | 60° | 3.8" | 0 | 8 | 64° – 76° |
| August | 81° | 57° | 2.8" | 0 | 8 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 73° | 49° | 2.6" | 0 | 8 | 54° – 66° |
| October | 57° | 36° | 2.4" | 0.6" | 8 | 39° – 52° |
| November | 40° | 22° | 0.9" | 1.7" | 4 | 18° – 42° |
| December | 26° | 9° | 0.8" | 9.9" | 6 | 2° – 26° |
| Year | 54° | 33° | 24.7" | 35.9" | 86 |
“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 White Rock
White Rock gets 25 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 86 days a year.
About 154 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 3 and the first one by October 3. That leaves about 154 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 77% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in White Rock
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In White Rock, 94% of that work is heating and 6% 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.
White Rock and its neighbors
White Rock borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.5°. Monson has the coldest January nights (2°) and White Rock the hottest July afternoons (82°). White Rock’s January low is 2° and its July high 82°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How White Rock 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 White Rock averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at White Rock’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 25°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about White Rock’s climate
What is the coldest month in White Rock?
January, with a typical high of 20° and a low of 2°.
What is the hottest month in White Rock?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 60°. About 10 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does White Rock get?
About 36 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in White Rock?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 3, and the last spring frost by May 3.
What is the rainiest month in White Rock?
June, with 3.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 25 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for White Rock itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at White Rock Dam, MN (4 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.