Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Clarkfield has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (6°C). Winters average 12°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. 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 29.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 45.5 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 1,088 feet.
Temperature
12°F Jan (-11°C)71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average
43.5°F
19% below US avg
January Average
12°F (-11°C)
July Average
71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days
276 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,088 ft (332 m)
Area
1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Population Density
768/sq mi
Coordinates
44.7903°N, 95.8076°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Yellow Medicine County County
Nearest Airport
Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall/Ryan Field (MML) 23 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall29.5"
23% below US avg
Snowfall45.5"
Wettest Month (Jun)3.86"
Driest Month (Dec)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
4 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
105 km
10 km
Oct 20, 1995
8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota
M3.7
138 km
5 km
Feb 9, 1994
6 km NNE of Blomkest, Minnesota
M3.1
68 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2011
Minnesota
M2.5
135 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, 271 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jun 13, 1968
EF5
69 km
9.1 mi
9
Jul 25, 2000
EF4
16 km
9.0 mi
1
Mar 29, 1998
EF4
96 km
73.5 mi
1
Jun 16, 1992
EF4
94 km
7.0 mi
0
Jul 7, 1955
EF4
46 km
30.0 mi
1
May 30, 2022
EF3
80 km
13.3 mi
0
Jul 11, 2008
EF3
61 km
8.0 mi
0
May 17, 1996
EF3
75 km
18.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
65 km
16.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
77 km
12.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
1 km
2.5 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
4 km
6.0 mi
0
Jun 16, 1992
EF3
60 km
13.0 mi
0
Jun 18, 1964
EF3
97 km
6.2 mi
0
May 30, 2022
EF2
81 km
12.4 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
85 km
0.4 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
97 km
2.0 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
52 km
0.4 mi
0
Jul 1, 2011
EF2
62 km
1.3 mi
0
Jul 14, 2009
EF2
70 km
7.9 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
58 km
2003
CHIPPEWA PRAIRIE
2,067
43 km
2004
FISH FIRE
1,799
62 km
2005
GRAND MEWS
1,245
66 km
1998
LEE
1,137
66 km
1995
UNNAMED
1,115
67 km
2003
ANDERSON
1,082
62 km
1998
ANDREASEN
1,001
63 km
1990
ANDERSON
988
66 km
2007
ANDERSON
797
62 km
2006
ANDERSON
764
66 km
1986
ANDERSON
746
62 km
2000
FISH
720
64 km
2010
WALDEN
717
83 km
2007
LEE
689
67 km
2000
SVOR
661
69 km
2003
LEE
560
67 km
1994
ARTICHOKE
556
65 km
2002
ARTICHOKE
548
65 km
2003
DISMAL SWAMP
518
83 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
12°F (-11°C)
0.8 in
Coldest
February
18°F (-8°C)
0.8 in
March
31°F (-1°C)
1.6 in
April
46°F (8°C)
2.4 in
May
59°F (15°C)
3.1 in
June
69°F (20°C)
3.9 in
Wettest
July
71°F (22°C)
3.6 in
Warmest
August
70°F (21°C)
2.9 in
September
60°F (16°C)
2.4 in
October
48°F (9°C)
2.0 in
November
31°F (-1°C)
1.3 in
December
17°F (-9°C)
0.7 in
Driest
Clarkfield has a seasonal temperature swing of 59°F / from 12°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 25.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.9") and December the driest (0.7").