Weather & Climate in Spring Creek, SD

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

Spring Creek experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 73°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 21.9 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 47.2 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 2,669 feet.

Temperature

24°F Jan (-5°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	47.6°F
	12% below US avg
January Average	24°F (-5°C)
July Average	73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	291 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	2,669 ft (814 m)
Area	10.4 sq mi (26.9 km²)
Population Density	33/sq mi
Coordinates	43.1154°N, 101.0307°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Bennett County County
Nearest Airport	Ainsworth Regional (ANW) 64 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 21.9"

42% below US avg

Snowfall 47.2"

Wettest Month (Jun) 3.31"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.31"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	5.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability	93.8 / 100
Community Resilience	2.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

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

Earthquake History

21 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	62 km	5 km
Jan 28, 1990	8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M4.0	121 km	5 km
Oct 18, 2012	28 km NW of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.6	126 km	5 km
Aug 26, 1991	15 km SSE of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.4	114 km	5 km
Jan 25, 1994	8 km E of Wood Lake, Nebraska	M3.3	91 km	5 km
Aug 9, 2011	2 km S of Fort Pierre, South Dakota	M3.3	145 km	5 km
Jun 18, 2015	15 km SSE of Valentine, Nebraska	M3.3	61 km	5 km
Mar 2, 1990	7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M3.2	121 km	5 km
Aug 5, 2022	4 km ENE of Draper, South Dakota	M3.2	101 km	9 km
Apr 11, 2016	11 km E of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.2	101 km	5 km
Jul 12, 1998	7 km E of Corn Creek, South Dakota	M3.1	49 km	5 km
Feb 20, 1993	21 km WSW of Cody, Nebraska	M3.1	47 km	5 km
Jan 1, 2025	4 km S of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.0	102 km	5 km
Sep 30, 1990	29 km SE of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.0	150 km	5 km
Feb 1, 2006	6 km ENE of Bassett, Nebraska	M2.9	139 km	5 km
Apr 4, 2024	19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota	M2.8	108 km	9 km
Mar 20, 2010	9 km NNW of Springview, Nebraska	M2.7	103 km	5 km
Jul 7, 2024	11 km NNW of Merriman, Nebraska	M2.6	59 km	11 km
Jun 16, 2021	15 km N of Quinn, South Dakota	M2.6	141 km	5 km
Aug 6, 2012	21 km WNW of Mullen, Nebraska	M2.5	116 km	5 km

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

Tornado History

214 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 25 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Aug 11, 2011	EF3	91 km	0.5 mi	0
May 18, 1977	EF3	84 km	18.8 mi	0
Jun 6, 1963	EF3	73 km	24.4 mi	0
Jun 15, 1962	EF3	22 km	0.1 mi	0
May 14, 1962	EF3	94 km	53.8 mi	0
Aug 6, 1956	EF3	99 km	28.3 mi	0
Jun 12, 2022	EF2	87 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 12, 2022	EF2	93 km	3.9 mi	0
May 22, 2016	EF2	50 km	4.6 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	93 km	9.0 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	99 km	2.9 mi	0
Jul 13, 2009	EF2	39 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 3, 2003	EF2	46 km	3.0 mi	0
Jun 29, 1993	EF2	98 km	5.0 mi	0
Mar 29, 1982	EF2	75 km	0.2 mi	0
Sep 7, 1979	EF2	10 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 25, 1978	EF2	100 km	11.1 mi	0
Jul 10, 1977	EF2	51 km	15.9 mi	0
Jul 19, 1975	EF2	21 km	20.9 mi	0
Jul 2, 1974	EF2	9 km	18.5 mi	0

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

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: REGION 24 COMPLEX (66,349 acres, 2012).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2012	REGION 24 COMPLEX	66,349	84 km
2000	POWDER HORN	48,608	53 km
2012	LONGHORN COMPLEX	41,443	8 km
1985	YELLOWBEAR	19,212	92 km
1988	LIGHTNING	18,426	13 km
2000	VAL COMP	15,513	77 km
2024	POWER DAM ROAD	15,047	65 km
2012	CROOKSTON	14,962	21 km
2000	HASNOHORSE	13,420	78 km
2011	OKREEK	11,115	78 km
2000	DECKER	10,883	95 km
1987	BIG FIRE	9,107	27 km
1990	GOOSECREEK	8,408	88 km
2021	DRY CREEK CA	8,123	92 km
2023	MCCANN	7,110	30 km
2021	HACKBERRY SOUTH RX	6,463	70 km
2000	PONY	5,982	85 km
2006	RED WATER	5,407	98 km
2000	UNNAMED	5,014	60 km
2017	WANBLEE TIMBER	4,982	69 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	24°F (-5°C)	0.3 in	Coldest, Driest
February	27°F (-3°C)	0.4 in
March	35°F (2°C)	1.2 in
April	46°F (8°C)	2.0 in
May	57°F (14°C)	3.2 in
June	67°F (20°C)	3.3 in	Wettest
July	73°F (23°C)	3.0 in	Warmest
August	72°F (22°C)	2.0 in
September	62°F (17°C)	1.5 in
October	49°F (10°C)	1.1 in
November	34°F (1°C)	0.6 in
December	25°F (-4°C)	0.4 in

Spring Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 24°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 19.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.3") and January the driest (0.3").

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