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Weather & Climate in Willow Lake, SD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Willow Lake has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winters average 12°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. 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 35. The city sits at an elevation of 1,778 feet.
Temperature
12°F Jan (-11°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 43.1°F |
| 20% below US avg | |
| January Average | 12°F (-11°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 276 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,778 ft (542 m) |
| Area | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,230/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 44.6279°N, 97.6381°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Clark County County |
| Nearest Airport | Watertown Regional (ATY) 31 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 4.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 61.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | No Rating |
| 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: M3.7.
| Oct 20, 1995 | 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota | M3.7 | 143 km | 5 km |
| Oct 25, 1990 | 8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota | M3.6 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 0 km WSW of Huron, South Dakota | M3.1 | 55 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 2022 | 9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota | M2.5 | 113 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
452 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 8 fatalities, 200 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 18, 2014 | EF4 | 90 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF4 | 40 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 1998 | EF4 | 98 km | 14.0 mi | 6 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF4 | 88 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 2022 | EF3 | 67 km | 13.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 24, 2006 | EF3 | 93 km | 24.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF3 | 89 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2003 | EF3 | 42 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 99 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 88 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 96 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1993 | EF3 | 78 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 62 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 1992 | EF3 | 48 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| May 12, 1984 | EF3 | 29 km | 27.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 1983 | EF3 | 48 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1973 | EF3 | 97 km | 0.3 mi | 1 |
| Jun 15, 1970 | EF3 | 76 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 25, 1969 | EF3 | 98 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 30, 2022 | EF2 | 65 km | 12.4 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
3 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: PHEASANT OPENER (1,206 acres, 2000).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2000 | PHEASANT OPENER | 1,206 | 80 km |
| 2009 | TAHOHPI WUI RX | 1,166 | 66 km |
| 1992 | SPRING LK | 1,001 | 92 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°F (-11°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 19°F (-7°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.5 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 2.2 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 3.1 in | |
| June | 67°F (20°C) | 3.7 in | Wettest |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 3.2 in | Warmest |
| August | 70°F (21°C) | 2.5 in | |
| September | 60°F (15°C) | 2.1 in | |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 1.8 in | |
| November | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 17°F (-9°C) | 0.5 in |
Willow Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 59°F / from 12°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 22.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.7") and January the driest (0.5").