Weather & Climate in St. Francis, SD

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

St. Francis experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 22°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 22.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 40.8 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 3,001 feet.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-6°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	46.7°F
	14% below US avg
January Average	22°F (-6°C)
July Average	73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	291 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	3,001 ft (915 m)
Area	0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²)
Population Density	1,753/sq mi
Coordinates	43.1426°N, 100.9028°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Todd County County
Nearest Airport	Ainsworth Regional (ANW) 60 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 22.5"

41% below US avg

Snowfall 40.8"

Wettest Month (Jun) 3.27"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median	35.0
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

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	73 km	5 km
Jan 28, 1990	8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M4.0	131 km	5 km
Oct 18, 2012	28 km NW of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.6	134 km	5 km
Aug 26, 1991	15 km SSE of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.4	113 km	5 km
Jan 25, 1994	8 km E of Wood Lake, Nebraska	M3.3	85 km	5 km
Aug 9, 2011	2 km S of Fort Pierre, South Dakota	M3.3	139 km	5 km
Jun 18, 2015	15 km SSE of Valentine, Nebraska	M3.3	56 km	5 km
Mar 2, 1990	7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M3.2	131 km	5 km
Aug 5, 2022	4 km ENE of Draper, South Dakota	M3.2	94 km	9 km
Apr 11, 2016	11 km E of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.2	99 km	5 km
Feb 20, 1993	21 km WSW of Cody, Nebraska	M3.1	57 km	5 km
Jul 12, 1998	7 km E of Corn Creek, South Dakota	M3.1	49 km	5 km
Jan 1, 2025	4 km S of Brownlee, Nebraska	M3.0	102 km	5 km
Feb 1, 2006	6 km ENE of Bassett, Nebraska	M2.9	130 km	5 km
Apr 4, 2024	19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota	M2.8	115 km	9 km
Jul 3, 1995	9 km SSW of Fort Thompson, South Dakota	M2.8	148 km	5 km
Mar 20, 2010	9 km NNW of Springview, Nebraska	M2.7	94 km	5 km
Jul 7, 2024	11 km NNW of Merriman, Nebraska	M2.6	70 km	11 km
Jun 16, 2021	15 km N of Quinn, South Dakota	M2.6	146 km	5 km
Aug 6, 2012	21 km WNW of Mullen, Nebraska	M2.5	121 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	97 km	30.1 mi	0
Aug 11, 2011	EF3	86 km	0.5 mi	0
May 18, 1977	EF3	90 km	18.8 mi	0
Jun 6, 1963	EF3	83 km	24.4 mi	0
Jun 15, 1962	EF3	30 km	0.1 mi	0
May 14, 1962	EF3	85 km	53.8 mi	0
Jun 12, 2022	EF2	89 km	3.9 mi	0
Jun 12, 2022	EF2	84 km	0.5 mi	0
May 22, 2016	EF2	41 km	4.6 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	83 km	9.0 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	88 km	2.9 mi	0
Jul 13, 2009	EF2	37 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 3, 2003	EF2	56 km	3.0 mi	0
Jun 29, 1993	EF2	87 km	5.0 mi	0
Mar 29, 1982	EF2	85 km	0.2 mi	0
Sep 7, 1979	EF2	2 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 10, 1977	EF2	62 km	15.9 mi	0
Jul 19, 1975	EF2	24 km	20.9 mi	0
Jul 2, 1974	EF2	2 km	18.5 mi	0
Jul 8, 1973	EF2	13 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: REGION 24 COMPLEX (66,349 acres, 2012).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2012	REGION 24 COMPLEX	66,349	76 km
2000	POWDER HORN	48,608	57 km
2012	LONGHORN COMPLEX	41,443	15 km
1988	LIGHTNING	18,426	15 km
2000	VAL COMP	15,513	76 km
2024	POWER DAM ROAD	15,047	60 km
2012	CROOKSTON	14,962	17 km
2000	HASNOHORSE	13,420	89 km
2011	OKREEK	11,115	68 km
1987	BIG FIRE	9,107	20 km
1990	GOOSECREEK	8,408	86 km
2021	DRY CREEK CA	8,123	88 km
2023	MCCANN	7,110	33 km
2021	HACKBERRY SOUTH RX	6,463	69 km
2000	PONY	5,982	83 km
2000	UNNAMED	5,014	60 km
2017	WANBLEE TIMBER	4,982	73 km
2003	PAPA	4,746	92 km
1998	TNC	4,683	65 km
1991	YELLOWROBE	4,679	28 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	22°F (-6°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)	1.9 in
May	57°F (14°C)	3.2 in
June	67°F (19°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 (16°C)	1.5 in
October	49°F (9°C)	1.1 in
November	34°F (1°C)	0.6 in
December	24°F (-5°C)	0.4 in

St. Francis has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 22°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 19.1 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.3") and January the driest (0.3").

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