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Weather & Climate in Valley Springs, SD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Valley Springs has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 72°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 29.6 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 1,410 feet.
Temperature
15°F Jan (-9°C)
72°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 45.1°F |
| 16% below US avg | |
| January Average | 15°F (-9°C) |
| July Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 291 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,410 ft (430 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²) |
| Population Density | 977/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.5821°N, 96.4659°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Rock County County |
| Nearest Airport | Joe Foss Field (FSD) 14 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 9.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 60.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.
| Feb 6, 1996 | 1 km N of Wausa, Nebraska | M3.6 | 148 km | 5 km |
| Jan 4, 2021 | 5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota | M3.1 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 2021 | 4 km E of Rembrandt, Iowa | M2.7 | 139 km | 10 km |
| Mar 6, 2024 | 6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska | M2.5 | 140 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
633 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 21 fatalities, 437 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF5 | 43 km | 16.0 mi | 1 |
| Jun 13, 1968 | EF5 | 87 km | 9.1 mi | 9 |
| Jun 25, 2010 | EF4 | 44 km | 13.7 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1998 | EF4 | 99 km | 14.0 mi | 6 |
| Mar 29, 1998 | EF4 | 86 km | 73.5 mi | 1 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF4 | 73 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF4 | 40 km | 54.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF4 | 61 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1965 | EF4 | 77 km | 7.8 mi | 1 |
| Aug 7, 1994 | EF3 | 51 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 70 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 62 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 52 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1993 | EF3 | 67 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 78 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1985 | EF3 | 46 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 3, 1981 | EF3 | 65 km | 12.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1978 | EF3 | 45 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1971 | EF3 | 81 km | 8.6 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1971 | EF3 | 95 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°F (-9°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 20°F (-6°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 32°F (0°C) | 1.7 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 2.6 in | |
| May | 59°F (15°C) | 3.2 in | |
| June | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 in | Wettest |
| July | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 3.2 in | |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 2.8 in | |
| October | 48°F (9°C) | 2.1 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 1.3 in | |
| December | 19°F (-8°C) | 0.7 in |
Valley Springs has a seasonal temperature swing of 56°F / from 15°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 25.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.8") and January the driest (0.5").