PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA

A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is relatively well distributed year-round in many areas with this climate, while others may see a marked reduction in wintry precipitation and even a wintertime drought. Snowfall, regardless of average seasonal totals, occurs in all areas with a humid continental climate and in many such places is more common than rain during the height of winter. In places with sufficient wintertime precipitation, the snow cover is often deep. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and a very occasional tropical system. Though humidity levels are often high in locations with humid continental climates, it is important to note that the "humid" designation does not mean that the humidity levels are necessarily high, but that the climate is not dry enough to be classified as semi-arid or arid.

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dwa". (Hot Summer Continental Climate).

The average temperature for the year in Pierre is 47.0°F (8.3°C). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 76.0°F (24.4°C). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 17.0°F (-8.3°C).

The highest recorded temperature in Pierre is 115.0°F (46.1°C), which was recorded in July. The lowest recorded temperature in Pierre is -40.0°F (-40°C), which was recorded in February.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Pierre is 16.5" (419.1 mm). The month with the most precipitation on average is June with 2.9" (73.7 mm) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is January with an average of 0.5" (12.7 mm). In terms of liquid precipitation, there are an average of 38.2 days of rain, with the most rain occurring in May with 5.6 days of rain, and the least rain occurring in January with 1.6 days of rain.

In Pierre, there's an average of 31.9" of snow (0 cm). The month with the most snow is March, with 7.2" of snow (18.3 cm).