The best times to visit Watertown for ideal weather are

May 14th to September 30th

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

 

 


Other Watertown Travel Info

Weather in Watertown

Temperature

Average temperatures in Watertown vary an incredible amount. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 41st 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 Watertown, 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 84.9°F (29.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 62.4°F (16.9°C) at night.

Watertown Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Watertown 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.

Watertown Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Watertown Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Watertown 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 22.1 12.1 2.6
Feb 24 13.4 4
Mar 40.6 29.7 20.7
Apr 55.7 42.9 32.1
May 68.9 56 44.7
Jun 77.5 66.1 55.1
Jul 83.6 72 60.6
Aug 80.9 69.1 58.1
Sep 74.4 61 49.6
Oct 58.6 46.7 36.9
Nov 43 31.8 22.3
Dec 25.1 16 7.6

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -5.5 -11.1 -16.3
Feb -4.4 -10.3 -15.6
Mar 4.8 -1.3 -6.3
Apr 13.2 6.1 0.1
May 20.5 13.3 7.1
Jun 25.3 18.9 12.8
Jul 28.7 22.2 15.9
Aug 27.2 20.6 14.5
Sep 23.6 16.1 9.8
Oct 14.8 8.2 2.7
Nov 6.1 -0.1 -5.4
Dec -3.8 -8.9 -13.6

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Watertown 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 mid to late November. For example, on the week of November 19th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid June with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of June 11th.

When can you find snow in Watertown? Weather stations report very large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around January, especially close to late February and early March. The best time to ski (if at all) in Watertown is often around around February 12th 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 Watertown.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Watertown (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 5% 10.8 0.4
Feb 7% 10.1 0.6
Mar 12% 10.8 1.3
Apr 14% 4 1.8
May 22% 0 3
Jun 28% 0 3.9
Jul 15% 0 2.6
Aug 16% 0 3.1
Sep 15% 0 2
Oct 15% 1.2 2.4
Nov 2% 4.7 0.3
Dec 7% 5.9 0.6

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 5 27.4 1
Feb 7 25.7 1.5
Mar 12 27.4 3.3
Apr 14 10.2 4.6
May 22 0 7.6
Jun 28 0 9.9
Jul 15 0 6.6
Aug 16 0 7.9
Sep 15 0 5.1
Oct 15 3 6.1
Nov 2 11.9 0.8
Dec 7 15 1.5

 

Humidity and Wind

Watertown has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is May (53.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (74.2%).

Wind in Watertown is usually moderate. The windiest month is April, followed by May and March. April’s average wind speed of around 10.5 knots (12.1 MPH or 19.4 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 May where average top sustained speeds reach 19.3 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

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

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 9.6 Gentle breeze 17.1 Strong breeze
Feb 9.1 Gentle breeze 16 Significant breeze
Mar 9.6 Gentle breeze 17 Strong breeze
Apr 10.5 Gentle breeze 18.2 Strong breeze
May 10 Gentle breeze 18.2 Strong breeze
Jun 8.1 Gentle breeze 16 Significant breeze
Jul 7.5 Gentle breeze 14.8 Strong breeze
Aug 7.1 Gentle breeze 14 Significant breeze
Sep 8.3 Gentle breeze 15.4 Strong breeze
Oct 9.3 Gentle breeze 16.5 Significant breeze
Nov 9.6 Gentle breeze 16.9 Strong breeze
Dec 9.1 Gentle breeze 15.9 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 71.4%
Feb 69.8%
Mar 67.9%
Apr 54%
May 53.8%
Jun 59.8%
Jul 59.6%
Aug 63.5%
Sep 59.3%
Oct 60.6%
Nov 63.7%
Dec 74.2%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Watertown?

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 Watertown, SD, US is April, followed by June and May. 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 Watertown 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 54.2 in November means 54.2% of the tourists vs. April.

 

 

Overall Watertown Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 74°F (23.3°C) and 24.1°F (-4.4°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 4 to 7 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the 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 comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 5 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Watertown, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 76.8°F (24.9°C) and 33.9°F (1.1°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 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 Watertown to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 26.8°F (-2.9°C) and 20.6°F (-6.3°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: consistently 2 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Watertown, SD, US