Bismarck, ND Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Bismarck
Bismarck runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 32°C separates the average July from the average January. Afternoons reach 83°F (28°C) at the peak of summer and 24°F (-5°C) at the depth of winter, with 78 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 83°F (28°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 24°F (-5°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 100°F (38°C) high · -32°F (-36°C) low
- Wettest month: June (8 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 32°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 18 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 6
- Average humidity: 66%
Temperatures through the year
The wettest month is June (2.7 inches (70 mm) across 8 days) and the driest January. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 83°F (28°C) by day and 63°F (17°C) overnight. January is the coolest month, with highs of 24°F (-5°C) and lows near 8°F (-14°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 100°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum -32°F (-36°C). Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is May through June.
Rain, sun and snow
2 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running January through February.
How Bismarck compares
- Its warmest and coolest months are 32°C apart - a wider seasonal swing than any other city in our 3496-city dataset.
- Bismarck averages 44°F (7°C) across the year - cooler than all but 3% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24° | 8° | 4 | 0.5 in | 5.9 h/day | 8.9 h | 13% | 78% |
| February | 27° | 8° | 4 | 0.6 in | 7.8 h/day | 10.2 h | 15% | 69% |
| March | 40° | 20° | 6 | 0.9 in | 8.9 h/day | 11.8 h | 18% | 68% |
| April | 51° | 31° | 8 | 1.9 in | 9.3 h/day | 13.5 h | 27% | 62% |
| May | 67° | 45° | 10 | 2.6 in | 11.4 h/day | 15.0 h | 33% | 61% |
| June | 78° | 57° | 8 | 2.7 in | 13.1 h/day | 15.8 h | 28% | 60% |
| July | 83° | 63° | 8 | 2.1 in | 13.5 h/day | 15.5 h | 27% | 62% |
| August | 81° | 60° | 6 | 2.4 in | 11.8 h/day | 14.2 h | 21% | 63% |
| September | 73° | 53° | 7 | 2.0 in | 9.9 h/day | 12.5 h | 23% | 63% |
| October | 56° | 38° | 5 | 1.5 in | 8.0 h/day | 10.8 h | 17% | 64% |
| November | 40° | 24° | 4 | 0.8 in | 6.5 h/day | 9.3 h | 14% | 70% |
| December | 27° | 12° | 6 | 1.0 in | 5.6 h/day | 8.6 h | 19% | 75% |
Bismarck month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Bismarck's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 5.9 h
- Daylight
- 8.9 h
- Snow
- 2 days
February
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 7.8 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
- Snow
- 2 days
March
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 3 days
April
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
- Snow
- 2 days
May
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
June
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 13.1 h
- Daylight
- 15.8 h
July
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 13.5 h
- Daylight
- 15.5 h
August
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 11.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
September
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
October
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
November
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
December
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 5.6 h
- Daylight
- 8.6 h
- Snow
- 4 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Bismarck
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Bismarck runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 53°F (11°C) and nights around 32°F (0°C); expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season, plus about 5 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Bismarck brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 81°F (27°C) and nights around 60°F (16°C); expect showers on roughly 23 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.8 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Bismarck runs cool rather than cold: 56°F (14°C) by day, 39°F (4°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 16 days over the three months, plus about 3 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Bismarck brings deep cold, with daytime highs averaging 26°F (-3°C) and nights around 9°F (-13°C); rain comes on about 14 days over the three months, plus about 9 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
Does it freeze in Bismarck?
What should I wear in Bismarck?
When is the dry season in Bismarck?
What is the average temperature in Bismarck?
How often does it rain in Bismarck?
Best time to visit Bismarck
The best time to visit Bismarck is generally May to September, when these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 76°F (25°C), with rain on about 8 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for Bismarck with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and rain gear if you travel around June. Even in July, lows of 63°F (17°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Bismarck temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.