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Climate in Aurora Township · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Hardly any U.S. towns see harsher January nights than Aurora Township

Peak summer warmth arrives in July, with afternoons near 80°. Its July afternoons stay fresher than in 92% of U.S. towns. Compared with 1901–2000, the average now sits 1.4° higher. For walks and days out, the stretch from May to September brings highs of 66–80°.

Colder January nights than all but 28 U.S. towns#3 coldest of 25 in ND
Cooler July afternoons than 92% of U.S. towns#2Coolest summers  of 25 in ND
All ND rankings →

A year in Aurora Township at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan17°-2°
Feb22°2°
Mar34°15°
Apr52°28°
May66°41° Last frost ~May 12
Jun75°52° 1 day 90°+Wettest
Jul80°56° 2 days 90°+
Aug79°54° 3 days 90°+
Sep70°45° First frost ~Sep 291 day 90°+
Oct54°32°
Nov now35°17°
Dec22°5°

What stands out about Aurora Township’s climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Aurora Township’s place in North Dakota beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Aurora Township feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
20° / 2°
Snow is rare
Spring
51° / 28°
Last frost around May 12
Summer
78° / 54°
6 days reach 90°
Fall
53° / 31°
First frost around Sep 29
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 138 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 12 and the first by September 29. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Minnewaukan, ND, 8 miles from the town’s center, 100 ft lower.

191
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
6th most of 25 in North Dakota
More freezing nights than all but 139 U.S. towns
54
nights at or below 0°
The most of 25 in North Dakota
More nights at or below 0° than all but 19 U.S. towns
6
days that reach 90°
The fewest of 25 in North Dakota
Fewer 90° days than 88% of U.S. towns
<1
days that reach 100°
5th fewest of 25 in North Dakota
Fewer 100° days than 68% of U.S. towns
4aUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 4a

The 2023 USDA map puts Aurora Township’s center in zone 4a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −27°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

31
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

2.5
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 19 inches of rain a year

June is the wettest month and January the driest.

19"
Rain + melted snow a year
15th driest of 25 in North Dakota
Drier than 90% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

3.8"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Aurora Township

97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.

9,598 heating degree daysMore heating than all but 51 U.S. towns
348 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 93% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Minnewaukan, ND.

Living here

Living with Aurora Township’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

138 frost-free days in zone 4a. The last frost comes by May 12 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 29.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, July, August and September. 16 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Cold waves are 55% of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Aurora Township from natural hazards, the largest share. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Aurora Township and its neighbors

Every town next door is within a degree of Aurora Township in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.

Rock Township: January low -2°, July high 80°West Bay Township: January low -2°, July high 80°Lallie Township: January low -2°, July high 80°Grandfield Township: January low -2°, July high 81°Valhalla Township: January low -2°, July high 81°South Viking Township: January low -2°, July high 81°Hesper Township: January low -2°, July high 80°Oberon Township: January low -2°, July high 80°West Antelope Township: January low -2°, July high 81°North Viking Township: January low -2°, July high 80°Aurora Township: January low -2°, July high 80°Aurora TownshipOberon TownshipWest Antelope TownshipNorth Viking Township
ColderMilder-2° to -2°
North Viking Township-2.4° about the same
West Antelope Township-2.1° about the same
Aurora Township-1.9°
Oberon Township-1.6° about the same

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Aurora Township averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.1°).

+1.4°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 55% of U.S. towns.

Winter+3.3°now 11°, was 8°
Spring+0.8°now 39°, was 39°
Summer+0.5°now 66°, was 66°
Fall+1.1°now 42°, was 41°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Aurora Township compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Aurora Township’s place among North Dakota’s.

Summer heat80° July high
Cooler July afternoons than 92% of U.S. towns2nd coolest of 25 in North Dakota
Winter cold−2° January low
Colder January nights than all but 28 U.S. towns3rd coldest of 25 in North Dakota
Precipitation19" a year
Drier than 90% of U.S. towns15th driest of 25 in North Dakota
Hot days6 days at 90°+
Fewer 90° days than 88% of U.S. townsThe fewest of 25 in North Dakota
Freezing nights191 a year
More freezing nights than all but 139 U.S. towns6th most of 25 in North Dakota
Growing season138 frost-free days
A shorter frost-free season than 97% of U.S. towns15th shortest of 25 in North Dakota
Month by month

Aurora Township weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Aurora Township’s center. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + melt30-yr range
January17°−2°0.4"−6° – 25°
February22°2°0.4"−4° – 25°
March34°15°0.7"12° – 39°
April52°28°1.1"27° – 48°
May66°41°2.6"48° – 61°
June75°52°3.8"58° – 68°
July80°56°3.2"61° – 73°
August79°54°2.3"60° – 71°
September70°45°1.9"52° – 64°
October54°32°1.4"34° – 48°
November35°17°0.6"12° – 39°
December22°5°0.5"0° – 24°
Year50°29°18.9"
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. January swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from -6° to 25°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Aurora Township’s numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Aurora Township’s center.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Minnewaukan, ND, 8 miles from the town’s center, 100 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Aurora Township’s climate

What is the weather like in Aurora Township?

A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to −2°. Colder January nights than all but 28 U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 92% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Aurora Township in winter?

January nights average −2°. About 191 nights a year reach 32° or below and 54 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged −6°.

How hot does it get in Aurora Township?

July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 56°. About 6 days a year reach 90° (Minnewaukan, ND).

When is the first and last frost in Aurora Township?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 12 and the first fall frost by September 29, about 138 frost-free days, at Minnewaukan, ND.

What growing zone is Aurora Township in?

Zone 4a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −27°.

What is the best time of year to visit Aurora Township?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Aurora Township getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 55% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Aurora Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.