Duluth, MN Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Duluth
Duluth runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 30°C separates the average July from the average January. Afternoons reach 78°F (25°C) at the peak of summer and 22°F (-6°C) at the depth of winter, with 113 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 78°F (25°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 22°F (-6°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · -30°F (-34°C) low
- Wettest month: August (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.6 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 30°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 27 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 6
- Average humidity: 73%
Temperatures through the year
Four of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is June through September. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 78°F (25°C), lows of 63°F (17°C). January bottoms out at 22°F (-6°C) in daylight, 9°F (-13°C) after dark. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 6 months, November through April.
Rain, sun and snow
Snow falls on roughly 27 days a year, mostly October through May. Between the average July and the average January lie 30°C, a wider spread than 97% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. July is the brightest month at 12.6 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 8.3 - duller than about 75% of the cities we track. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 97°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum -30°F (-34°C).
How Duluth compares
- Duluth averages 43°F (6°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 | 22° | 9° | 6 | 1.0 in | 5.2 h/day | 8.9 h | 21% | 78% |
| February | 24° | 8° | 6 | 1.2 in | 7.1 h/day | 10.2 h | 21% | 72% |
| March | 37° | 22° | 7 | 2.1 in | 8.3 h/day | 11.8 h | 24% | 70% |
| April | 46° | 32° | 11 | 2.9 in | 8.4 h/day | 13.5 h | 38% | 69% |
| May | 60° | 44° | 11 | 3.6 in | 10.2 h/day | 15.0 h | 35% | 70% |
| June | 71° | 55° | 11 | 3.6 in | 12.2 h/day | 15.8 h | 37% | 72% |
| July | 78° | 63° | 10 | 3.4 in | 12.6 h/day | 15.5 h | 33% | 73% |
| August | 75° | 62° | 10 | 3.8 in | 10.8 h/day | 14.2 h | 34% | 74% |
| September | 69° | 56° | 10 | 3.5 in | 9.2 h/day | 12.5 h | 33% | 75% |
| October | 54° | 43° | 10 | 3.0 in | 6.5 h/day | 10.8 h | 33% | 72% |
| November | 40° | 29° | 9 | 2.5 in | 5.1 h/day | 9.3 h | 29% | 72% |
| December | 28° | 16° | 10 | 2.6 in | 4.2 h/day | 8.6 h | 31% | 78% |
Duluth month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Duluth's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 5.2 h
- Daylight
- 8.9 h
- Snow
- 5 days
February
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 7.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
- Snow
- 4 days
March
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 4 days
April
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
- Snow
- 3 days
May
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
June
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 12.2 h
- Daylight
- 15.8 h
July
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 12.6 h
- Daylight
- 15.5 h
August
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
September
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
October
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
November
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 5.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 3 days
December
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 4.2 h
- Daylight
- 8.6 h
- Snow
- 6 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Duluth
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Duluth runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 48°F (9°C) and nights around 33°F (0°C); expect showers on roughly 30 days across the season, plus about 8 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer is pleasantly warm here - highs near 75°F (24°C), nights near 60°F (16°C), and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.9 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Duluth runs cool rather than cold, with daytime highs averaging 55°F (13°C) and nights around 43°F (6°C); expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season, plus about 4 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Duluth is bitterly cold: 25°F (-4°C) by day, 11°F (-12°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season, plus about 15 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
How many rainy days does Duluth get in a year?
How cold does Duluth get in winter?
How sunny is Duluth?
Is Duluth warmer or cooler than most cities?
What is the average temperature in Duluth?
Best time to visit Duluth
Aim for May to September if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 71°F (22°C) against roughly 11 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for Duluth with a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 78°F (25°C) with 63°F (17°C).
Duluth 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.