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Weather & Climate in Hartford, SD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hartford experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 74°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 28.3 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 1,545 feet.
Temperature
16°F Jan (-9°C)
74°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 46.6°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 16°F (-9°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 291 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,545 ft (471 m) |
| Area | 2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,080/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.6195°N, 96.9370°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Minnehaha County County |
| Nearest Airport | Joe Foss Field (FSD) 10 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 89.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 14.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 86.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
6 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.
| Oct 25, 1990 | 8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota | M3.6 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Feb 6, 1996 | 1 km N of Wausa, Nebraska | M3.6 | 133 km | 5 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 0 km WSW of Huron, South Dakota | M3.1 | 132 km | 5 km |
| Jan 4, 2021 | 5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota | M3.1 | 99 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 2022 | 9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota | M2.5 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Mar 6, 2024 | 6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska | M2.5 | 116 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
637 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 11 fatalities, 303 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF5 | 76 km | 16.0 mi | 1 |
| Jun 25, 2010 | EF4 | 82 km | 13.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF4 | 99 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1998 | EF4 | 62 km | 14.0 mi | 6 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF4 | 11 km | 54.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF4 | 40 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF4 | 91 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1965 | EF4 | 55 km | 7.8 mi | 1 |
| Aug 7, 1994 | EF3 | 89 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 29 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 42 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 34 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1993 | EF3 | 29 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 70 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 83 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1985 | EF3 | 74 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 3, 1981 | EF3 | 42 km | 12.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1978 | EF3 | 62 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1971 | EF3 | 91 km | 46.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1970 | EF3 | 59 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°F (-9°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 21°F (-6°C) | 0.7 in | |
| March | 33°F (0°C) | 1.6 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3.0 in | |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 3.6 in | Wettest |
| July | 74°F (24°C) | 2.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 2.9 in | |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 in | |
| October | 48°F (9°C) | 1.8 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 1.1 in | |
| December | 19°F (-7°C) | 0.7 in |
Hartford has a seasonal temperature swing of 58°F / from 16°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 24.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.6") and January the driest (0.5").