Dry weather: only 19 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Manderson-White Horse Creek, less than in 90% of U.S. towns
Deep winter brings January lows near 14°. In January, nights here are colder than in 87% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.7°, most of all in January. The heating season runs October to April: each of those months averages under 50°.
A year in Manderson-White Horse Creek at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Manderson-White Horse Creek’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Manderson-White Horse Creek’s place in South Dakota beside it.
What a year in Manderson-White Horse Creek 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 9 and the first by October 4. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Manderson 3 Ne, SD, 3 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Manderson-White Horse Creek’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −18°. 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 19 inches of rain a year
June is the wettest month and January the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Manderson-White Horse Creek
90% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Manderson 3 Ne, SD.
Living with Manderson-White Horse Creek’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 9 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 4.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: May, June and September. 3.6 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Manderson-White Horse Creek from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (39%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 16%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Manderson-White Horse Creek and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Manderson-White Horse Creek yet.
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 Manderson-White Horse Creek averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.4°).
A bigger shift than in 69% 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 Manderson-White Horse Creek compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Manderson-White Horse Creek’s place among South Dakota’s.
Manderson-White Horse Creek weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Manderson-White Horse Creek’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 14° | 0.4" | 17° – 37° |
| February | 40° | 16° | 0.6" | 15° – 39° |
| March | 51° | 25° | 1.1" | 26° – 50° |
| April | 59° | 33° | 2.2" | 39° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 43° | 3.3" | 49° – 62° |
| June | 80° | 53° | 3.4" | 61° – 72° |
| July | 88° | 60° | 2.2" | 66° – 80° |
| August | 87° | 58° | 2.0" | 67° – 77° |
| September | 77° | 48° | 1.5" | 55° – 68° |
| October | 62° | 35° | 1.6" | 40° – 55° |
| November | 48° | 24° | 0.7" | 26° – 45° |
| December | 38° | 15° | 0.5" | 17° – 34° |
| Year | 61° | 35° | 19.4" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 26° to 50°. August is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Where Manderson-White Horse Creek’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 Manderson-White Horse Creek’s center.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Manderson 3 Ne, SD, 3 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; 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 Manderson-White Horse Creek’s climate
What is the weather like in Manderson-White Horse Creek?
A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 14°. Colder January nights than 87% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 66% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Manderson-White Horse Creek in winter?
January nights average 14°. About 164 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 17°.
How hot does it get in Manderson-White Horse Creek?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 60°. About 38 days a year reach 90° and 4 reach 100° (Manderson 3 Ne, SD).
When is the first and last frost in Manderson-White Horse Creek?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 9 and the first fall frost by October 4, about 147 frost-free days, at Manderson 3 Ne, SD.
What growing zone is Manderson-White Horse Creek in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −18°.
What is the best time of year to visit Manderson-White Horse Creek?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), May, June and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Manderson-White Horse Creek getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 69% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Manderson-White Horse Creek.
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.