Minnesota Climate

Minnesota State has a continental climate, with cold winters and warm to hot summers. Winters in the state can be bitterly cold, with average monthly temperatures ranging from 10-20°F (-12 to -6°C). The summer months are usually warm, with average temperatures reaching up to around 80°F (27°C) across much of the state. With its location on Lake Superior, the northern part of Minnesota experiences cooler weather than the southern part. Overall, the yearly precipitation is moderate with snowfall common in winter months.

Minnesota, Minnesota gets 29 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Minnesota averages 47 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 195 sunny days per year in Minnesota. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Minnesota gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 100 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 81 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 2
Rain: averages 29 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 47 inches of snow a year

Bestplaces Comfort Index

Minnesota's annual BestPlaces Comfort Index of 6.4 (10=best) indicates it is one of the least comfortable states in the United States.

9.2 Summer - 3.7 Winter

August, July and June are the most pleasant months in the state of Minnesota, while January and December are the least comfortable months.

Climate	Minnesota, Minnesota	United States
	29.4 in.	38.1 in.
	46.8 in.	27.8 in.
	100.2 days	106.2 days
	195 days	205 days
	81.4°	85.8°
	1.8°	21.7°
	6.4	7
	3.2	4.3
	1175 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 Minnesota with an average high temperature of 81.4°, which ranks it as cooler than most states. In Minnesota, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Minnesota are June, August and July.

Minnesota has 7.3 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most states in the U.S.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Minnesota with an average of 1.8°. This is one of the coldest of the U.S. states.

Minnesota has 169.4 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most states in the U.S.

Minnesota averages 36.4 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is one of the coldest states in the U.S.

Humidity in the state of Minnesota 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 Minnesota with 4.4 inches of rain, and the driest month is February with 0.7 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 41% of yearly precipitation and 8% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. Minnesota's average annual rainfall of 29.4 inches indicates that it is drier than most states in the United States.

June is the rainiest month in Minnesota with 11.5 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 5.4 rainy days. Minnesota's annual average of 100.2 days with measurable rain is less rainy than most states in the United States. The rainiest season is Autumn when it rains 30% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 19% chance of a rainy day.

Minnesota's average annual snowfall of 46.8 inches indicates that it is snowier than most states in the United States. December is the snowiest month in Minnesota with 10.1 inches of snow, and 7 months of the year have significant snowfall.

Reviews for Minnesota

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Warren · Cottage Grove, MN

Not Minnesota nice, more like Minnesota ice

Over 2 years ago

My family and I have lived in Minnesota for just shy of 10 years. We came from a southern state, so we were a little used to more of a friendly type of atmosphere. We More

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Ravon · Minneapolis, MN

Bad, just Bad.

Over 2 years ago

I've lived in this city for 4 years and the people are as bitter and cold as the winters here. Have had most only bad experiences here, probably only a couple decent More

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Kevin · Saint Paul, MN

Living in the Twin Cities

Over 9 years ago

Its a great place -- lots to do, diverse population. Negatives are cold winters and high More