Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Battle Lake has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 8°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 61°F. The area gets 276 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 28.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 1,383 feet.
Temperature
8°F Jan (-14°C)69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
40.9°F
24% below US avg
January Average
8°F (-14°C)
July Average
69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
276 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,383 ft (422 m)
Area
1.5 sq mi (3.8 km²)
Population Density
551/sq mi
Coordinates
46.2849°N, 95.7187°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Otter Tail County County
Nearest Airport
Hector International (FAR) 68 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall28.2"
26% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun)4.17"
Driest Month (Feb)0.59"
Air Quality
AQI Median
36.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
79.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
53.5 / 100
Community Resilience
92.6 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively High
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Very High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.1.
Jun 5, 1993
11 km N of Johnson, Minnesota
M4.1
81 km
10 km
Oct 20, 1995
8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota
M3.7
104 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2011
Minnesota
M2.5
36 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
401 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 4 fatalities, 130 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jul 8, 2020
EF4
28 km
8.9 mi
1
Aug 7, 2010
EF4
73 km
5.0 mi
0
Jun 17, 2010
EF4
31 km
39.6 mi
1
Jun 17, 2010
EF4
44 km
10.0 mi
0
Jun 6, 2008
EF3
94 km
7.3 mi
0
Jun 13, 2001
EF3
33 km
12.0 mi
0
May 10, 1982
EF3
65 km
15.0 mi
0
Aug 26, 1977
EF3
94 km
26.3 mi
0
Jun 28, 1975
EF3
93 km
2.3 mi
0
Aug 6, 1969
EF3
90 km
17.3 mi
0
Jun 18, 1964
EF3
75 km
6.2 mi
0
May 5, 1964
EF3
73 km
5.2 mi
0
Jul 2, 1955
EF3
80 km
18.7 mi
0
Jul 1, 1952
EF3
98 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 24, 2022
EF2
64 km
30.9 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
50 km
6.8 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
48 km
11.0 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
67 km
19.6 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
66 km
10.5 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
66 km
9.8 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: CENTER TANK RANGE (6,131 acres, 2009).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2009
CENTER TANK RANGE
6,131
100 km
1988
UNNAMED
4,475
100 km
2003
ROTHSAY
3,015
56 km
2024
DORAN WMA
2,455
42 km
2009
EAST TANK RANGE
1,801
99 km
2009
DOWNING
1,506
99 km
2012
JEEP FIRE
1,437
72 km
2012
SPRING CREEK
1,413
96 km
2000
00 14
1,377
78 km
2007
FLICKERTAIL
1,239
100 km
1996
UNNAMED
1,153
84 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,128
97 km
2019
UNNAMED
1,060
97 km
1998
UNNAMED
1,026
95 km
2021
HARTLEBEN WPA
1,002
99 km
1999
HELLIKSEN
993
93 km
1992
MEADOWS
922
64 km
2002
1000 AC S
880
77 km
1985
UNNAMED
880
97 km
2005
HILLICKSON 05
818
92 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
8°F (-14°C)
0.8 in
Coldest
February
14°F (-10°C)
0.6 in
Driest
March
27°F (-3°C)
1.2 in
April
43°F (6°C)
2.2 in
May
56°F (14°C)
2.9 in
June
65°F (18°C)
4.2 in
Wettest
July
69°F (21°C)
3.5 in
Warmest
August
68°F (20°C)
3.3 in
September
58°F (14°C)
2.6 in
October
46°F (8°C)
2.1 in
November
28°F (-2°C)
1.0 in
December
13°F (-11°C)
0.7 in
Battle Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 62°F / from 8°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 25.1 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.2") and February the driest (0.6").