Gem, SD Climate


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Gem, South Dakota is a small town located in the northwest corner of the state. Its climate is typical for the region with cold winters and hot summers. During the winter months temperatures average in the low 20s while the summer months can reach up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Precipitation is fairly consistent throughout the year, averaging around 15 inches yearly. The area is known for strong winds which can make it feel even colder during the winter months. During the summer months, thunderstorms are common in Gem and surrounding towns. Overall, Gem has a mild climate year round with typically cooler temperatures in the winter and warmer temperatures during summertime.

Gem, South Dakota gets 22 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Gem averages 37 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 202 sunny days per year in Gem. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Gem gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 89 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.


Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 84 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 2
Rain: averages 22 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 37 inches of snow a year


Bestplaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Gem is 6.6 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in South Dakota.

9.2 Summer - 3.9 Winter
August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Gem, while January and December are the least comfortable months.

  ClimateGem, South DakotaUnited States
  22.4 in.38.1 in.
  37.0 in.27.8 in.
  89.4 days106.2 days
  202 days205 days
  83.7°85.8°
  1.5°21.7°
  6.67
  34.3
  1287 ft.2443 ft.
Climate
YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

July is the hottest month for Gem with an average high temperature of 83.7°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in South Dakota. In Gem, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Gem are June, August and September.
In Gem, there are 13.7 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in South Dakota.
January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Gem with an average of 1.5°. This is one of the coldest places in South Dakota.
In Gem, there are 178.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the coldest places in South Dakota.
In Gem, there are 37.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is one of the coldest places in South Dakota.
Humidity in Gem is generally low and comfortable. But there some days when the humidity becomes unpleasant, especially in July and August. The most humid months (but still comfortable) are July, August and June.
June is the wettest month in Gem with 3.5 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 0.5 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 42% of yearly precipitation and 7% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 22.4 inches in Gem means that it is drier than most places in South Dakota.
June is the rainiest month in Gem with 10.9 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 5.5 rainy days. There are 89.4 rainy days annually in Gem, which is one of the rainiest places in South Dakota. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 32% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 19% chance of a rainy day.
An annual snowfall of 37.0 inches in Gem means that it is about average compared to other places in South Dakota. March is the snowiest month in Gem with 6.8 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.
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