The best times to visit Dakota Dunes for ideal weather are

April 30th to July 8th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Dakota Dunes Travel Info

Weather in Dakota Dunes

Temperature

Average temperatures in Dakota Dunes vary an incredible amount. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 31st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Dakota Dunes, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 89.4°F (31.9°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 63.4°F (17.4°C) at night.

Dakota Dunes Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Dakota Dunes Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Dakota Dunes Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Dakota Dunes Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Dakota Dunes Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 32 19.2 7.5
Feb 34.5 21.6 10.9
Mar 53.1 38.1 25.8
Apr 65.6 49.7 36.1
May 77.1 62 48.3
Jun 84.6 71.4 58.3
Jul 88.3 75.3 62.2
Aug 85.7 72.7 60.5
Sep 80.5 64.4 50.5
Oct 67.8 51.6 38.1
Nov 52.6 37.5 24.8
Dec 34.8 23.1 12.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 0 -7.1 -13.6
Feb 1.4 -5.8 -11.7
Mar 11.7 3.4 -3.4
Apr 18.7 9.8 2.3
May 25.1 16.7 9.1
Jun 29.2 21.9 14.6
Jul 31.3 24.1 16.8
Aug 29.8 22.6 15.8
Sep 26.9 18 10.3
Oct 19.9 10.9 3.4
Nov 11.4 3.1 -4
Dec 1.6 -4.9 -10.6

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Dakota Dunes are November, January, and then February. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid January. For example, on the week of January 8th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late May with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of May 21st.

When can you find snow in Dakota Dunes? Weather stations report large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around January, especially close to mid February. The best time to ski (if at all) in Dakota Dunes is often around around December 17th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Dakota Dunes.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Dakota Dunes (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 8% 6.5 0.8
Feb 9% 6.2 0.9
Mar 10% 4.3 1.2
Apr 21% 2.2 3.5
May 26% 0 4.4
Jun 28% 0 5.6
Jul 17% 0 4.2
Aug 22% 0 4.9
Sep 17% 0 2.6
Oct 16% 0 2.8
Nov 7% 3.5 1
Dec 14% 5.5 1.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 8 16.5 2
Feb 9 15.7 2.3
Mar 10 10.9 3
Apr 21 5.6 8.9
May 26 0 11.2
Jun 28 0 14.2
Jul 17 0 10.7
Aug 22 0 12.4
Sep 17 0 6.6
Oct 16 0 7.1
Nov 7 8.9 2.5
Dec 14 14 4.3

 

Humidity and Wind

Dakota Dunes has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (49.4% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (67%).

Wind in Dakota Dunes is usually moderate. The windiest month is April, followed by May and March. April’s average wind speed of around 10.7 knots (12.3 MPH or 19.8 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 19.8 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Dakota Dunes.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 9.5 Gentle breeze 18 Strong breeze
Feb 9.4 Gentle breeze 17.1 Strong breeze
Mar 9.7 Gentle breeze 17.6 Strong breeze
Apr 10.7 Gentle breeze 19.4 Strong breeze
May 9.8 Gentle breeze 18.9 Strong breeze
Jun 7.9 Gentle breeze 16.5 Significant breeze
Jul 6.4 Light breeze 13.5 Strong breeze
Aug 6.2 Light breeze 13 Significant breeze
Sep 7 Gentle breeze 14 Strong breeze
Oct 8.2 Gentle breeze 15.7 Significant breeze
Nov 9.1 Gentle breeze 16.6 Strong breeze
Dec 8.8 Gentle breeze 16.1 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 62.9%
Feb 62.6%
Mar 58.4%
Apr 49.4%
May 50.5%
Jun 58.3%
Jul 62.4%
Aug 66.5%
Sep 60.3%
Oct 54.4%
Nov 56.3%
Dec 67%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Dakota Dunes?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Dakota Dunes, SD, US is June, followed by May and February. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Dakota Dunes in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 48.4 in November means 48.4% of the tourists vs. June.

 

 

Overall Dakota Dunes Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 81.6°F (27.6°C) and 34.9°F (1.6°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 3 to 8 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 5 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Dakota Dunes, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 81.7°F (27.6°C) and 44.4°F (6.9°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 2 to 5 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Dakota Dunes to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 36.9°F (2.7°C) and 31.1°F (-0.5°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 2 to 4 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Dakota Dunes, SD, US