Black Hills National Cemetery · Photo: Dave Golterman · CC BY-SA 3.0Precipitation in Blucksberg Mountain trails that of 89% of U.S. towns: 21 inches a year
The coldest hours of a January night bottom out at 14° on average. In January, nights here are colder than in 87% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.3°, most of all in January. Plan time outside for May, June, August and September, when highs sit at 66–84°.
A year in Blucksberg Mountain at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Blucksberg Mountain’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Blucksberg Mountain’s place in South Dakota beside it.
What a year in Blucksberg Mountain feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 147 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 8 and the first by October 3. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Ft Meade, SD, 4 miles from the town’s center, 410 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Blucksberg Mountain’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −15°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 48 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Ft Meade, SD, falls mostly in February, March, April and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 21 inches a year; May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 94 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Blucksberg Mountain
91% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Ft Meade, SD.
Living with Blucksberg Mountain’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
147 frost-free days in zone 5a. The last frost comes by May 8 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 3.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June, August and September.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Blucksberg Mountain from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (44%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 8%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Blucksberg Mountain and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Blucksberg Mountain yet.
Climates most like Blucksberg Mountain’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blucksberg Mountain, SD | 14° | 85° | 21" | 48" |
| Air Force Academy, CO | 14° | 84° | 21" | 55" |
| Doney Park, AZ | 17° | 86° | 16" | 52" |
| Ranchettes, WY | 16° | 85° | 16" | 65" |
| Alliance, NE | 13° | 88° | 17" | 45" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Blucksberg Mountain averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.6°).
A smaller shift than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Blucksberg Mountain compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Blucksberg Mountain’s place among South Dakota’s.
Blucksberg Mountain weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Blucksberg Mountain’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Ft Meade, SD. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 14° | 0.5" | 5.3" | 6 | 11 | 16° – 36° |
| February | 38° | 15° | 0.7" | 8.3" | 7 | 12 | 10° – 36° |
| March | 48° | 23° | 1.2" | 8.4" | 7 | 7 | 23° – 47° |
| April | 56° | 32° | 2.4" | 7.9" | 9 | 3 | 37° – 50° |
| May | 66° | 42° | 4.3" | 1.4" | 12 | 0 | 47° – 59° |
| June | 77° | 52° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 58° – 71° |
| July | 85° | 58° | 2.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 64° – 77° |
| August | 84° | 56° | 1.9" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 64° – 75° |
| September | 75° | 46° | 1.5" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 54° – 67° |
| October | 59° | 34° | 1.8" | 2.8" | 8 | 2 | 38° – 53° |
| November | 47° | 24° | 0.8" | 5.3" | 6 | 4 | 26° – 44° |
| December | 38° | 15° | 0.5" | 8.2" | 5 | 12 | 18° – 33° |
| Year | 59° | 34° | 21.3" | 47.6" | 94 | 51 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 10° to 36°. August is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Where Blucksberg Mountain’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 Blucksberg Mountain’s center.
- Snow: Ft Meade, SD.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Ft Meade, SD, 4 miles from the town’s center, 410 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 Blucksberg Mountain’s climate
What is the weather like in Blucksberg Mountain?
A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 48 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 87% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 52% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Blucksberg Mountain in winter?
January nights average 14°. About 157 nights a year reach 32° or below and 15 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 16°.
How much snow does Blucksberg Mountain get?
About 48 inches in a normal winter at Ft Meade, SD, most of it in February, March, April and December, with snow on the ground about 51 days a year.
How hot does it get in Blucksberg Mountain?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 58°. About 28 days a year reach 90° and 2 reach 100° (Ft Meade, SD).
When is the first and last frost in Blucksberg Mountain?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 8 and the first fall frost by October 3, about 147 frost-free days, at Ft Meade, SD.
What growing zone is Blucksberg Mountain in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −15°.
What is the best time of year to visit Blucksberg Mountain?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Blucksberg Mountain getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 58% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Blucksberg Mountain.
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.