Climateby Month

Minneapolis vs Rochester weather

Minneapolis, MN and Rochester, MN · 77 mi apart

July highs: 83°F in Minneapolis, 80°F in Rochester (Minneapolis is 3°F warmer). January highs: 24°F and 23°F (Minneapolis is 1°F warmer). Minneapolis has about 119 wet days a year, Rochester about 124. Muggy days: about 22 a year in Minneapolis, about 25 in Rochester. Snow: 54.3 in a year in Minneapolis, 53.1 in in Rochester.

Minneapolis, MN

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 24°F (-4°C), low 9°F (-13°C) 24° 9° February: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 13°F (-11°C) March: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 25°F (-4°C) April: normal high 57°F (14°C), low 38°F (3°C) May: normal high 69°F (21°C), low 50°F (10°C) June: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 60°F (16°C) July: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 65°F (18°C) 83° 65° August: normal high 81°F (27°C), low 63°F (17°C) September: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 54°F (12°C) October: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 41°F (5°C) November: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 28°F (-2°C) December: normal high 29°F (-2°C), low 15°F (-9°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, September

Rochester, MN

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 23°F (-5°C), low 7°F (-14°C) 23° 7° February: normal high 27°F (-3°C), low 11°F (-12°C) March: normal high 40°F (4°C), low 23°F (-5°C) April: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 35°F (2°C) May: normal high 68°F (20°C), low 47°F (8°C) June: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 58°F (14°C) July: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 61°F (16°C) 80° 61° August: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 58°F (14°C) September: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 50°F (10°C) October: normal high 58°F (14°C), low 38°F (3°C) November: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 26°F (-3°C) December: normal high 28°F (-2°C), low 14°F (-10°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Which city for what

  • Cooler summers: Rochester (July high 80°F vs July high 83°F)
  • Longer growing season: Minneapolis (175 frost-free days vs 159 frost-free days)

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 MinneapolisAvg high RochesterWet days MinneapolisWet days Rochester
Winter (Dec-Feb)27°F26°F2727
Spring (Mar-May)56°F54°F3336
Summer (Jun-Aug)81°F79°F3233
Fall (Sep-Nov)58°F57°F2728

Side by side over a year

MinneapolisRochester
Hot days (90°F+)135
Freezing nights147156
Muggy days2225
Comfortable days7881
Precipitation31.6 in34.7 in
Snowfall54.3 in53.1 in
Frost dateslast Apr 23, first Oct 16last Apr 30, first Oct 6
Daylight in June / December15.6 h / 8.8 h15.4 h / 8.9 h
Best monthsMay, SeptemberMay, June, September

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 MinneapolisHigh RochesterWet days MinneapolisWet days Rochester
January24°F23°F109
February29°F27°F88
March42°F40°F910
April57°F55°F1112
May69°F68°F1213
June79°F78°F1213
July83°F80°F1011
August81°F78°F1010
September73°F72°F99
October58°F58°F1010
November42°F42°F89
December29°F28°F1010

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Minneapolis, MN: temperature from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922), 6.9 mi SSE of the city center; precipitation from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport (USW00014922). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Rochester, MN: temperature from Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925), 8.2 mi S of the city center; precipitation from Rochester Intl Airport (USW00014925). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

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