2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Bismarck, ND vs Ottumwa, IA

Highlights

On average, there are 200 sunny days per year in Ottumwa. Bismarck averages 202 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Ottumwa, Iowa gets 38.7 inches of rain, on average, per year. Bismarck, North Dakota gets 18.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Ottumwa averages 24.8 inches of snow per year. Bismarck averages 46.2 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Ottumwa, Iowa
Summer High: the July high is around 85.2 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 13.6
Rain: averages 38.7 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 24.8 inches of snow a year

Bismarck, North Dakota
Summer High: the July high is around 83.6 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 2.2
Rain: averages 18.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 46.2 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Ottumwa is 7.0 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Iowa.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Bismarck is 6.5 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in North Dakota.

Today's Weather - Bismarck, ND

54°F

Today's Weather - Ottumwa, IA

61°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Bismarck / Ottumwa

July is the hottest month for Bismarck with an average high temperature of 83.6°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in North Dakota. In Bismarck, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Bismarck are June, August and July.

July is the hottest month for Ottumwa with an average high temperature of 85.2°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in Iowa. In Ottumwa, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Ottumwa are September, June and August.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Bismarck with an average of 2.2°. This is warmer than most places in North Dakota.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Ottumwa with an average of 13.6°. This is warmer than most places in Iowa.

In Bismarck, there are 15.2 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in North Dakota.

In Ottumwa, there are 15.8 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in Iowa.

In Bismarck, there are 182.2 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in North Dakota.

In Ottumwa, there are 132.5 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the warmest places in Iowa.

In Bismarck, there are 35.2 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is one of the warmest places in North Dakota.

In Ottumwa, there are 12.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is warmer than most places in Iowa.

June is the wettest month in Bismarck with 3.2 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 0.4 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 47% of yearly precipitation and 8% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 18.5 inches in Bismarck means that it is about average compared to other places in North Dakota.


June is the wettest month in Ottumwa with 5.0 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 1.3 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 37% of yearly precipitation and 11% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 38.7 inches in Ottumwa means that it is one of the wettest places in Iowa.

June is the rainiest month in Bismarck with 10.7 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 5.5 rainy days. There are 87.2 rainy days annually in Bismarck, which is rainier than most places in North Dakota. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 32% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 21% chance of a rainy day.

May is the rainiest month in Ottumwa with 12.2 days of rain, and January is the driest month with only 6.0 rainy days. There are 106.7 rainy days annually in Ottumwa, which is rainier than most places in Iowa. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 30% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 19% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 46.2 inches in Bismarck means that it is one of the snowiest places in North Dakota.

An annual snowfall of 24.8 inches in Ottumwa means that it is less snowy than most places in Iowa.

March is the snowiest month in Bismarck with 8.4 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.

December is the snowiest month in Ottumwa with 6.3 inches of snow, and 6 months of the year have significant snowfall.