Climateby Month

Fargo vs Bismarck weather

Fargo, ND and Bismarck, ND · 189 mi apart

July highs: 82°F in Fargo, 85°F in Bismarck (Bismarck is 3°F warmer). January highs: 18°F and 23°F (Bismarck is 5°F warmer). Fargo has about 109 wet days a year, Bismarck about 100. Muggy days: about 14 a year in Fargo, about 7 in Bismarck. Snow: 51.4 in a year in Fargo, 50.5 in in Bismarck.

Fargo, ND

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 18°F (-8°C), low 0°F (-18°C) 18° 0° February: normal high 23°F (-5°C), low 4°F (-16°C) March: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 18°F (-8°C) April: normal high 54°F (12°C), low 32°F (0°C) May: normal high 69°F (21°C), low 44°F (7°C) June: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 56°F (13°C) July: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 59°F (15°C) 82° 59° August: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 57°F (14°C) September: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 48°F (9°C) October: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 35°F (2°C) November: normal high 38°F (3°C), low 21°F (-6°C) December: normal high 24°F (-4°C), low 8°F (-13°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June

Bismarck, ND

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 23°F (-5°C), low 2°F (-17°C) 23° 2° February: normal high 28°F (-2°C), low 7°F (-14°C) March: normal high 41°F (5°C), low 19°F (-7°C) April: normal high 56°F (13°C), low 30°F (-1°C) May: normal high 68°F (20°C), low 42°F (6°C) June: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 53°F (12°C) July: normal high 85°F (29°C), low 58°F (14°C) 85° 58° August: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 56°F (13°C) September: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 46°F (8°C) October: normal high 57°F (14°C), low 33°F (1°C) November: normal high 41°F (5°C), low 19°F (-7°C) December: normal high 28°F (-2°C), low 8°F (-13°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Bismarck (January high 23°F vs January high 18°F)
  • Cooler summers: Fargo (July high 82°F vs July high 85°F)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high FargoAvg high BismarckWet days FargoWet days Bismarck
Winter (Dec-Feb)22°F26°F2623
Spring (Mar-May)53°F55°F2726
Summer (Jun-Aug)80°F82°F3029
Fall (Sep-Nov)55°F57°F2521

Side by side over a year

FargoBismarck
Hot days (90°F+)1121
Freezing nights173185
Muggy days147
Comfortable days7980
Precipitation23.9 in19.1 in
Snowfall51.4 in50.5 in
Frost dateslast May 10, first Sep 30last May 14, first Sep 27
Daylight in June / December15.8 h / 8.6 h15.8 h / 8.6 h
Best monthsMay, JuneMay

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh FargoHigh BismarckWet days FargoWet days Bismarck
January18°F23°F98
February23°F28°F78
March36°F41°F88
April54°F56°F88
May69°F68°F1110
June78°F78°F1212
July82°F85°F1010
August81°F84°F98
September72°F73°F97
October56°F57°F97
November38°F41°F87
December24°F28°F108

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Fargo, ND: temperature from Fargo Hector Intl Airport (USW00014914), 3.5 mi NNW of the city center; precipitation from Fargo Hector Intl Airport (USW00014914). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Bismarck, ND: temperature from Bismarck (USW00024011), 2.8 mi SSE of the city center; precipitation from Bismarck (USW00024011). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.