Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Clara City has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 14°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 270 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 30.9 inches. The area receives 43.6 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36. The city sits at an elevation of 1,067 feet.
Temperature
14°F Jan (-10°C)72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
44.8°F
17% below US avg
January Average
14°F (-10°C)
July Average
72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
270 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,067 ft (325 m)
Area
1.7 sq mi (4.5 km²)
Population Density
796/sq mi
Coordinates
44.9574°N, 95.3677°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Yellow Medicine County County
Nearest Airport
Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall/Ryan Field (MML) 42 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall30.9"
19% below US avg
Snowfall43.6"
Wettest Month (Jul)3.46"
Driest Month (Feb)0.71"
Air Quality
AQI Median
36.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
30.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability
30.9 / 100
Community Resilience
88.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Very Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively Moderate
Lightning
Very Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
5 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
108 km
10 km
Oct 20, 1995
8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota
M3.7
149 km
5 km
Feb 9, 1994
6 km NNE of Blomkest, Minnesota
M3.1
29 km
5 km
Apr 25, 2017
Near Mankato, Minnesota
M2.8
138 km
0 km
Apr 29, 2011
Minnesota
M2.5
115 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
429 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 14 fatalities, 310 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jun 13, 1968
EF5
93 km
9.1 mi
9
Jul 25, 2000
EF4
25 km
9.0 mi
1
Jul 7, 1955
EF4
85 km
30.0 mi
1
Jun 19, 1951
EF4
79 km
52.6 mi
1
Jul 11, 2008
EF3
22 km
8.0 mi
0
May 17, 1996
EF3
98 km
18.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
39 km
2.5 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
83 km
16.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
90 km
10.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
43 km
6.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
68 km
13.0 mi
0
May 6, 1965
EF3
99 km
15.5 mi
0
Jun 18, 1964
EF3
75 km
6.2 mi
0
May 5, 1964
EF3
83 km
4.3 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
86 km
19.6 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
89 km
0.4 mi
0
Jul 11, 2016
EF2
67 km
3.1 mi
0
Jul 11, 2016
EF2
84 km
2.2 mi
0
Jul 1, 2011
EF2
96 km
1.3 mi
0
Jun 25, 2010
EF2
89 km
0.3 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: LOUISBURGRADE (6,487 acres, 2004).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2004
LOUISBURGRADE
6,487
74 km
2003
CHIPPEWA PRAIRIE
2,067
55 km
2004
FISH FIRE
1,799
80 km
2005
GRAND MEWS
1,245
83 km
1998
LEE
1,137
85 km
1995
UNNAMED
1,115
85 km
2003
ANDERSON
1,082
80 km
1998
ANDREASEN
1,001
81 km
1990
ANDERSON
988
83 km
2007
ANDERSON
797
80 km
2006
ANDERSON
764
84 km
1986
ANDERSON
746
80 km
2000
FISH
720
81 km
2010
WALDEN
717
70 km
2007
LEE
689
85 km
2000
SVOR
661
47 km
2000
ASHLEY N
588
84 km
2003
LEE
560
86 km
1994
ARTICHOKE
556
72 km
2002
ARTICHOKE
548
72 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
14°F (-10°C)
0.8 in
Coldest
February
18°F (-8°C)
0.7 in
Driest
March
31°F (-1°C)
1.3 in
April
46°F (8°C)
1.9 in
May
60°F (15°C)
2.3 in
June
69°F (20°C)
3.2 in
July
72°F (22°C)
3.5 in
Warmest, Wettest
August
70°F (21°C)
3.2 in
September
60°F (16°C)
2.5 in
October
48°F (9°C)
1.8 in
November
31°F (-1°C)
1.2 in
December
17°F (-9°C)
0.8 in
Clara City has a seasonal temperature swing of 58°F / from 14°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.2 inches, with July being the wettest month (3.5") and February the driest (0.7").