Sioux Falls, SD Climate & Monthly Averages

Sioux Falls has a humid continental climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 83° by day; January is the coldest at 27°.

South Dakota, United States 🇺🇸 · humid continental climate
Annual avg
48°
Hottest month
July
Coldest month
January
Rainy days / yr
91
Sunshine
9.2 h/day
Right now: 35° and sunny - see live conditions

Sioux Falls's climate is a story of contrasts

The Sioux Falls year is defined by how long its winter lasts: 5 months average sub-freezing nights, bottoming out in January at 11°F (-11°C). Summer is the short exception, with July reaching 83°F (28°C).

Warm end

July

83° by day 65° at night
Cold end

January

27° by day 11° at night

The two ends of the year

January is the coolest month, with highs of 27°F (-3°C) and lows near 11°F (-11°C). Warmth peaks in July: highs of 83°F (28°C), lows of 65°F (18°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 102°F (39°C) and bottoms at -24°F (-31°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. July is the brightest month at 13.2 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.2.

Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 5 months, November through March. Precipitation concentrates in May - 4.3 inches (110 mm) on 12 days - and thins out by February. Between the average July and the average January lie 31°C, a wider spread than 97% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.

More climate facts for Sioux Falls
  • Hottest month: July - highs near 83°F (28°C)
  • Coldest month: January - highs near 27°F (-3°C)
  • Decade extremes (2015-2024): 102°F (39°C) high · -24°F (-31°C) low
  • Wettest month: May (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.2 h sun/day)
  • Climate type: humid continental
  • Annual swing: 31°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
  • Snow: about 19 days a year
  • Months with freezing average lows: 5
  • Average humidity: 68%

Four distinct parts of the year in Sioux Falls

Spring (March through May)

Spring in Sioux Falls stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 57°F (14°C) and nights around 37°F (3°C); expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season, plus about 5 snowy days.

Summer (June through August)

Through summer, Sioux Falls sits firmly in the heat: 82°F (28°C) by day, 63°F (17°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.5 hours of sun a day.

Fall (September through November)

Fall stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 60°F (16°C), nights near 43°F (6°C), and expect showers on roughly 20 days across the season, plus about 2 snowy days.

Winter (December through February)

Through winter, Sioux Falls brings deep cold: 30°F (-1°C) by day, 14°F (-10°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 16 days over the three months, plus about 11 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.

Sioux Falls temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset

Highest daily value
102°
in August
Lowest daily value
-24°
in January
Annual precipitation
30.0"
Snowy days / yr
19

Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.

Choosing a season in Sioux Falls

Best time to visit Sioux Falls

The best time to visit Sioux Falls is generally June to October, when these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 76°F (24°C), with rain on about 8 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in June.

What to pack

Pack for Sioux Falls with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 65°F (18°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.

Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change

Monthly averages for Sioux Falls based on 2015–2024 weather data. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th; wet-day chance is the share of days with measurable rain.
MonthHighLow Rain daysPrecipitation SunshineDaylightWet-day chanceHumidity
January 27° 11° 5 1.0 in 6.1 h/day 9.3 h 17% 75%
February 31° 13° 5 0.9 in 7.9 h/day 10.4 h 18% 66%
March 45° 26° 6 2.2 in 8.3 h/day 11.8 h 21% 66%
April 56° 36° 10 3.6 in 9.2 h/day 13.4 h 32% 62%
May 69° 49° 12 4.3 in 10.3 h/day 14.7 h 39% 65%
June 81° 62° 10 4.0 in 12.8 h/day 15.4 h 32% 64%
July 83° 65° 7 2.6 in 13.2 h/day 15.1 h 24% 70%
August 81° 63° 9 3.2 in 11.4 h/day 14.0 h 30% 72%
September 76° 58° 8 2.7 in 10.1 h/day 12.4 h 27% 67%
October 59° 42° 7 2.5 in 8.0 h/day 10.9 h 23% 64%
November 45° 29° 5 1.5 in 6.9 h/day 9.6 h 16% 68%
December 33° 18° 6 1.5 in 5.9 h/day 9.0 h 18% 73%

Sioux Falls from the coldest month to the hottest

Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Sioux Falls's coldest night and warmest afternoon.

January

Coldest
27°11°
Rain
5 days
Sunshine
6.1 h
Daylight
9.3 h
Snow
4 days

February

Driest
31°13°
Rain
5 days
Sunshine
7.9 h
Daylight
10.4 h
Snow
4 days

March

45°26°
Rain
6 days
Sunshine
8.3 h
Daylight
11.8 h
Snow
3 days

April

56°36°
Rain
10 days
Sunshine
9.2 h
Daylight
13.4 h
Snow
2 days

May

Wettest
69°49°
Rain
12 days
Sunshine
10.3 h
Daylight
14.7 h

June

81°62°
Rain
10 days
Sunshine
12.8 h
Daylight
15.4 h

July

HottestSunniest
83°65°
Rain
7 days
Sunshine
13.2 h
Daylight
15.1 h

August

81°63°
Rain
9 days
Sunshine
11.4 h
Daylight
14.0 h

September

76°58°
Rain
8 days
Sunshine
10.1 h
Daylight
12.4 h

October

59°42°
Rain
7 days
Sunshine
8.0 h
Daylight
10.9 h

November

45°29°
Rain
5 days
Sunshine
6.9 h
Daylight
9.6 h
Snow
2 days

December

33°18°
Rain
6 days
Sunshine
5.9 h
Daylight
9.0 h
Snow
4 days

Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Sioux Falls's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.

Where Sioux Falls sits among other climates

  • Sioux Falls averages 48°F (9°C) across the year - cooler than all but 6% of the 3496 cities we track.

These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.

Questions about Sioux Falls's seasonal changes

Is Sioux Falls hot in summer?
July averages 83°F (28°C). Hot afternoons happen but extremes are not the norm.
Is Sioux Falls humid?
Relative humidity averages 68% across the year, which reads as fairly humid. Paired with July heat, muggy afternoons are routine.
How warm is Sioux Falls on average?
48°F (9°C) across all twelve months - about 57°F (14°C) by day and 39°F (4°C) after dark.
Is Sioux Falls warmer or cooler than most cities?
Its 48°F (9°C) annual average is cooler than 94% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, which are all measured on the same 2015-2024 basis.
What should I wear in Sioux Falls?
It depends on the month: July runs to 83°F (28°C) while January holds at 27°F (-3°C). The full month-by-month breakdown is in the packing notes above.
Is Sioux Falls cold in winter?
January nights average 11°F (-11°C). Serious winter clothing territory.