2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Bismarck, ND vs Grand Forks, ND

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Highlights

On average, there are 197 sunny days per year in Grand Forks. Bismarck averages 202 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Grand Forks, North Dakota gets 21.5 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.

Grand Forks averages 42.4 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

Grand Forks, North Dakota
Summer High:
the July high is around 81.1 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is -2.5
Rain: averages 21.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 42.4 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
Grand Forks

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Grand Forks is 6.2 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in North Dakota.

6.2 / 10
July, August and June are the most pleasant months in Grand Forks, while January and December are the least comfortable months.

Bismarck

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

6.5 / 10
August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Bismarck, while January and December are the least comfortable months.

Today's Weather - Bismarck, ND

7 PM PST

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms

56°F

DAYDESCRIPTIONHIGH / LOWWIND
TonightShowers And Thunderstorms Likely then Showers And Thunderstorms49° / 57°N 10 to 22 mph
Thursday NightShowers And Thunderstorms41° / 47°NW 22 to 33 mph
Friday NightRain Showers35° / 56°NW 9 to 20 mph
Saturday NightPartly Cloudy36° / 58°E 6 to 9 mph
Sunday NightRain Showers Likely44° / 58°E 15 mph
Monday NightRain Showers46° / 57°E 13 to 17 mph
Tuesday NightRain Showers42° / 59°N 10 to 15 mph
Today's Weather - Grand Forks, ND

7 PM PST

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

79°F

DAYDESCRIPTIONHIGH / LOWWIND
TonightChance Showers And Thunderstorms61° / 80°NE 12 mph
Thursday NightShowers And Thunderstorms Likely48° / 58°E 13 to 21 mph
Friday NightRain Showers37° / 54°NNW 21 to 28 mph
Saturday NightSlight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy35° / 63°NNE 7 to 16 mph
Sunday NightMostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers41° / 62°E 13 mph
Monday NightRain Showers Likely47° / 58°ESE 16 to 20 mph
Tuesday NightRain Showers Likely46° / 57°E 14 to 20 mph
Average Monthly High / Low (°F)
MonthBismarck, NDGrand Forks, ND
January23° / 2°16° / -3°
February28° / 8°22° / 3°
March40° / 19°34° / 17°
April56° / 31°54° / 31°
May68° / 43°68° / 43°
June76° / 52°76° / 53°
July84° / 58°81° / 58°
August82° / 56°80° / 55°
September71° / 45°70° / 45°
October57° / 32°54° / 33°
November39° / 19°35° / 18°
December26° / 6°20° / 3°
Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Bismarck / Grand Forks
MonthHot DaysFreezing DaysRainy DaysSnowy Days
January0 / 031 / 316 / 77 / 8
February0 / 028 / 286 / 66 / 6
March0 / 028 / 296 / 75 / 4
April0 / 017 / 177 / 72 / 1
May0 / 03 / 49 / 100 / 0
June2 / 20 / 011 / 110 / 0
July6 / 30 / 010 / 100 / 0
August6 / 30 / 08 / 90 / 0
September1 / 11 / 27 / 80 / 0
October0 / 015 / 146 / 81 / 1
November0 / 028 / 276 / 65 / 4
December0 / 031 / 316 / 77 / 8
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 Grand Forks with an average high temperature of 81.1°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in North Dakota. In Grand Forks, there are 3 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Grand Forks are June, August and July.
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 Grand Forks with an average of -2.5°. This is colder than most places in North Dakota.

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 Grand Forks, there are 8.3 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in North Dakota.

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 Grand Forks, there are 182.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in North Dakota.

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 Grand Forks, there are 48.8 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in North Dakota.

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 Grand Forks with 3.7 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 0.5 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 46% of yearly precipitation and 8% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 21.5 inches in Grand Forks means that it is wetter than most places in North Dakota.

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.

June is the rainiest month in Grand Forks with 11.3 days of rain, and November is the driest month with only 6.1 rainy days. There are 96.7 rainy days annually in Grand Forks, which is one of the rainiest places in North Dakota. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 31% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 21% 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 42.4 inches in Grand Forks means that it is snowier than most places in North Dakota.
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 Grand Forks with 10.2 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.

DID YOU KNOW?

Many people confuse Weather and Climate, but they are different. Weather refers to the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, while Climate refers to the conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time.

Weather, more specifically, refers to how the atmosphere behaves and its effects on life and human activities. Most people think of Weather in terms of what can be observed: temperature, humidity, precipitation, and cloudy/sunny conditions. Weather conditions constantly change on a minute-to-minute basis.

Climate is a record of the average weather conditions for a given place over a long period of time, often referred to as Climate Normals. A 30-year period of record is a common requirement to be considered a Climate Normal.

Reviews for Bismarck    2 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

Hi. I'd like to know if you still feel the same way about living in Broomfield. I went there this past July to check it out (along with Lafayette, Boulder (can't  More

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Over 16 years ago

Apex is perfect for what you are looking for. It's close enough to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill to find a job and Cary the next town over, is a little more expensive but  More

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Start Your Review of Bismarck

Reviews for Grand Forks    2 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

Hi. I'd like to know if you still feel the same way about living in Broomfield. I went there this past July to check it out (along with Lafayette, Boulder (can't  More

   |    Reply

Over 16 years ago

Apex is perfect for what you are looking for. It's close enough to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill to find a job and Cary the next town over, is a little more expensive but  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Grand Forks

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Zips In Bismarck, North Dakota
58503, 58501, 58504, 58505
Zips In GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
58201, 58203, 58202
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