Weather & Climate in Crookston, NE

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Crookston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 291 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 22.6 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 38.2 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 2,674 feet.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-5°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)

Annual Average	46.1°F
	15% below US avg
January Average	22°F (-5°C)
July Average	72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days	291 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	2,674 ft (815 m)
Area	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density	105/sq mi
Coordinates	42.9263°N, 100.7534°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Todd County County
Nearest Airport	Ainsworth Regional (ANW) 45 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 22.6"

40% below US avg

Snowfall 38.2"

Wettest Month (May) 3.27"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median	32.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	36.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability	97.7 / 100
Community Resilience	0.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Relatively Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Moderate
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Relatively Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Relatively High
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Very Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Moderate
Landslide	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

20 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.0.

May 25, 2003	10 km SSW of Martin, South Dakota	M4.0	87 km	5 km
Jan 28, 1990	8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M4.0	148 km	5 km
Oct 18, 2012	28 km NW of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.6	126 km	5 km
Aug 19, 2015	13 km S of Halsey, Nebraska	M3.6	134 km	15 km
Aug 26, 1991	15 km SSE of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.4	87 km	5 km
Jan 25, 1994	8 km E of Wood Lake, Nebraska	M3.3	60 km	5 km
Jun 18, 2015	15 km SSE of Valentine, Nebraska	M3.3	31 km	5 km
Mar 2, 1990	7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M3.2	148 km	5 km
Aug 5, 2022	4 km ENE of Draper, South Dakota	M3.2	114 km	9 km
Apr 11, 2016	11 km E of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.2	73 km	5 km
Feb 20, 1993	21 km WSW of Cody, Nebraska	M3.1	59 km	5 km
Jul 12, 1998	7 km E of Corn Creek, South Dakota	M3.1	76 km	5 km
Jan 1, 2025	4 km S of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.0	76 km	5 km
Sep 30, 1990	29 km SE of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.0	138 km	5 km
Feb 1, 2006	6 km ENE of Bassett, Nebraska	M2.9	110 km	5 km
Apr 4, 2024	19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota	M2.8	138 km	9 km
Mar 20, 2010	9 km NNW of Springview, Nebraska	M2.7	78 km	5 km
Jul 7, 2024	11 km NNW of Merriman, Nebraska	M2.6	82 km	11 km
Aug 6, 2012	21 km WNW of Mullen, Nebraska	M2.5	103 km	5 km
Apr 27, 2025	9 km NE of Burke, South Dakota	M2.5	129 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

222 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 18 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
May 8, 1965	EF5	85 km	30.1 mi	0
Aug 11, 2011	EF3	60 km	0.5 mi	0
May 18, 1977	EF3	75 km	18.8 mi	0
Jun 6, 1963	EF3	98 km	24.4 mi	0
Jun 15, 1962	EF3	30 km	0.1 mi	0
May 14, 1962	EF3	68 km	53.8 mi	0
May 22, 2016	EF2	29 km	4.6 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	88 km	2.9 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	68 km	9.0 mi	0
Jul 13, 2009	EF2	11 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 3, 2003	EF2	75 km	3.0 mi	0
Jun 4, 1999	EF2	96 km	19.0 mi	0
Jun 29, 1993	EF2	87 km	5.0 mi	0
Sep 7, 1979	EF2	28 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 7, 1979	EF2	90 km	11.1 mi	0
Jul 10, 1977	EF2	69 km	15.9 mi	0
Jul 19, 1975	EF2	18 km	20.9 mi	0
Jul 2, 1974	EF2	26 km	18.5 mi	0
Jul 8, 1973	EF2	37 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 27, 1972	EF2	72 km	1.0 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (77,236 acres, 1999).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1999	UNNAMED	77,236	94 km
2012	REGION 24 COMPLEX	66,349	55 km
2000	POWDER HORN	48,608	41 km
2012	LONGHORN COMPLEX	41,443	39 km
1988	LIGHTNING	18,426	41 km
2000	VAL COMP	15,513	50 km
2024	POWER DAM ROAD	15,047	84 km
2012	CROOKSTON	14,962	10 km
2000	HASNOHORSE	13,420	100 km
2011	OKREEK	11,115	80 km
1987	BIG FIRE	9,107	44 km
1990	GOOSECREEK	8,408	59 km
2012	UNNAMED	7,980	83 km
2023	MCCANN	7,110	20 km
2012	UNNAMED	6,910	98 km
2021	HACKBERRY SOUTH RX	6,463	43 km
2000	PONY	5,982	56 km
2000	UNNAMED	5,014	36 km
2017	WANBLEE TIMBER	4,982	99 km
1998	TNC	4,683	44 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	22°F (-5°C)	0.3 in	Coldest, Driest
February	27°F (-3°C)	0.4 in
March	35°F (2°C)	1.1 in
April	46°F (8°C)	2.0 in
May	58°F (14°C)	3.3 in	Wettest
June	68°F (20°C)	3.1 in
July	72°F (22°C)	3.3 in
August	72°F (22°C)	2.1 in	Warmest
September	62°F (17°C)	1.6 in
October	49°F (10°C)	1.1 in
November	34°F (1°C)	0.7 in
December	24°F (-4°C)	0.4 in

Crookston has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 22°F in January to 72°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 19.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.3") and January the driest (0.3").

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