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Weather & Climate in Garden City, SD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Garden City has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°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 24.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1,848 feet.
Temperature
12°F Jan (-11°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 43.1°F |
| 20% below US avg | |
| January Average | 12°F (-11°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,848 ft (563 m) |
| Area | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 218/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 44.9593°N, 97.5804°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Clark County County |
| Nearest Airport | Watertown Regional (ATY) 21 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 4.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 61.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| 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 | 128 km | 10 km |
| Oct 20, 1995 | 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota | M3.7 | 108 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 1990 | 8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota | M3.6 | 148 km | 5 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 0 km WSW of Huron, South Dakota | M3.1 | 83 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 2022 | 9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota | M2.5 | 148 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
444 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 5 fatalities, 61 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF4 | 77 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 2022 | EF3 | 62 km | 13.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF3 | 75 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1996 | EF3 | 91 km | 32.0 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 1996 | EF3 | 82 km | 18.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 89 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 98 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 75 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| May 12, 1984 | EF3 | 15 km | 27.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 1983 | EF3 | 33 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1973 | EF3 | 79 km | 0.3 mi | 1 |
| Jun 25, 1969 | EF3 | 67 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1961 | EF3 | 76 km | 156.3 mi | 1 |
| May 30, 2022 | EF2 | 67 km | 12.4 mi | 0 |
| May 12, 2022 | EF2 | 51 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 12, 2022 | EF2 | 73 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 12, 2022 | EF2 | 91 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2007 | EF2 | 99 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2006 | EF2 | 85 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF2 | 60 km | 2.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
10 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: TACOMA PARK PLACE (1,336 acres, 2004).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2004 | TACOMA PARK PLACE | 1,336 | 83 km |
| 2000 | PHEASANT OPENER | 1,206 | 47 km |
| 2009 | TAHOHPI WUI RX | 1,166 | 91 km |
| 1998 | LEE | 1,137 | 100 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 1,115 | 100 km |
| 1992 | SPRING LK | 1,001 | 55 km |
| 2007 | LEE | 689 | 99 km |
| 2006 | MOSQUITO RANCH | 656 | 99 km |
| 2003 | LEE | 560 | 99 km |
| 1993 | LEE | 516 | 99 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°F (-11°C) | 0.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 18°F (-8°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.3 in | |
| April | 44°F (7°C) | 2.1 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 2.9 in | |
| June | 67°F (19°C) | 3.7 in | Wettest |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 2.8 in | |
| September | 59°F (15°C) | 2.0 in | |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 1.7 in | |
| November | 29°F (-2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 16°F (-9°C) | 0.5 in | Driest |
Garden City has a seasonal temperature swing of 59°F / from 12°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 22.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.7") and December the driest (0.5").