Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Prairie Rose has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 8°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July / a wide seasonal temperature swing of 63°F. 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 38. The city sits at an elevation of 906 feet.
Temperature
8°F Jan (-14°C)71°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
41.4°F
23% below US avg
January Average
8°F (-14°C)
July Average
71°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
276 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
906 ft (276 m)
Area
0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Population Density
1,250/sq mi
Coordinates
46.8171°N, 96.8354°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Clay County County
Nearest Airport
Hector International (FAR) 7 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall24.4"
36% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun)3.35"
Driest Month (Feb)0.43"
Air Quality
AQI Median
38.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
73.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability
12.8 / 100
Community Resilience
74.7 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively Low
Ice Storm
Relatively Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
3 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
134 km
10 km
Oct 20, 1995
8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota
M3.7
115 km
5 km
Apr 29, 2011
Minnesota
M2.5
136 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
465 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 18 fatalities, 231 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jun 20, 1957
EF5
40 km
52.4 mi
10
Aug 7, 2010
EF4
80 km
5.0 mi
0
Jun 17, 2010
EF4
88 km
17.0 mi
0
Jun 28, 1975
EF4
10 km
5.4 mi
0
Jul 2, 1955
EF4
37 km
9.1 mi
2
Aug 27, 2016
EF3
77 km
3.0 mi
0
May 10, 1982
EF3
93 km
15.0 mi
0
Jun 28, 1975
EF3
20 km
2.3 mi
0
Jul 1, 1973
EF3
82 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 16, 1973
EF3
64 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 15, 1973
EF3
32 km
0.1 mi
0
May 5, 1964
EF3
87 km
5.2 mi
0
Sep 6, 1958
EF3
89 km
2.9 mi
0
Aug 30, 1956
EF3
10 km
5.1 mi
0
Jul 2, 1955
EF3
35 km
18.7 mi
0
Jul 1, 1952
EF3
84 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 13, 1950
EF3
83 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 24, 2023
EF2
83 km
6.2 mi
0
Jun 24, 2022
EF2
87 km
30.9 mi
0
May 12, 2022
EF2
92 km
9.8 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: BIESTERFELD (3,481 acres, 2021).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2021
BIESTERFELD
3,481
64 km
2003
ROTHSAY
3,015
48 km
2024
DORAN WMA
2,455
87 km
2010
NELSON PRAIRIE MIDDLE WPA
1,779
99 km
2009
DOWNING
1,506
76 km
2012
SPRING CREEK
1,413
76 km
2000
00 14
1,377
94 km
2003
OLERUD
1,275
54 km
2010
BEJOU WMA
1,270
95 km
2007
FLICKERTAIL
1,239
45 km
2011
NEAL WMA
1,213
58 km
1996
UNNAMED
1,153
29 km
1985
ALICE 02
1,142
52 km
2016
UNNAMED
1,128
79 km
2006
FULLERS LAKE 06
1,109
78 km
2019
UNNAMED
1,060
79 km
1998
UNNAMED
1,026
76 km
2021
HARTLEBEN WPA
1,002
82 km
1999
HELLIKSEN
993
65 km
2010
UNNAMED
931
94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
8°F (-14°C)
0.6 in
Coldest
February
14°F (-10°C)
0.4 in
Driest
March
27°F (-3°C)
0.9 in
April
44°F (7°C)
1.5 in
May
58°F (14°C)
2.6 in
June
67°F (19°C)
3.4 in
Wettest
July
71°F (21°C)
3.0 in
Warmest
August
69°F (20°C)
2.5 in
September
59°F (15°C)
2.2 in
October
46°F (8°C)
1.8 in
November
28°F (-2°C)
0.8 in
December
13°F (-10°C)
0.5 in
Prairie Rose has a seasonal temperature swing of 63°F / from 8°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.4") and February the driest (0.4").