Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Crystal, Minnesota Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Crystal weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Crystal, MN
Saturday, July 4 at 8:02 AM
69
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
72°
Humidity
92%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
12:32 AM
Sunset
4:03 PM
Crystal, MN
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCrystal, MN: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 66 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit with a 27% chance of precipitation at 11 PM.
L 66°H 88°
Crystal, MN
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    27%
    88°66°
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Light Drizzle
    15%
    0.02″
    87°66°-1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    90°68°+3°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    33%
    89°71°-1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Showers
    52%
    0.54″
    79°68°-10°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    52%
    82°62°+3°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    17%
    85°65°+3°
Crystal, MN
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
E
083° · backing 144°
Direction
E
083°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 5
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 5 · pk 20 @ 12:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 151SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Crystal, MN
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
984.4
+1.7 mb in 3h · rising · 29.07 inHg
Now
984.4
mb
3h
+1.7
mb
12h
+2.8
mb
24h
+1.2
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 981984
975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW984.4981.4984.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Crystal, MN
Air quality
63
AQI
Moderate
+3 in 6h

AQI 63 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.89 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
13.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
15μg/m³
NO₂Good
11μg/m³
OzoneGood
48μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.1

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 13.6 µg/m³ (AQI 59) with a 0.89 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke
Crystal, MN
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
35%
MOSTLY CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
26.7mi
UNLIMITED
72 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
13:02 UTC · Crystal, MN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
13:02 UTC · Crystal, MN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Crystal, MN
Satellite · infrared · animated
Crystal, MN
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Crystal, MN
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:56 AM
Sunrise
12:32 AM
Daylight
15h 31m
Sunset
4:03 PM
Civil dusk
9:41 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Crystal, MN
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
11:16 PM
Moonset
10:13 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Crystal, MN
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Crystal at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 69°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: May 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Crystal

  1. Sat88°66°27%
  2. Sun87°66°15%
  3. Mon90°68°3%
  4. Tue89°71°33%
  5. Wed79°68°52%
  6. Thu82°62°52%
  7. Fri85°65°17%
  8. Sat76°64°17%
  9. Sun77°57°12%
  10. Mon83°62°14%
  11. Tue81°64°9%
  12. Wed86°68°16%
  13. Thu87°63°10%
  14. Fri91°70°22%
  15. Sat91°73°28%
  16. Sun94°75°30%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Crystal

SPC has placed Crystal in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Winter settles deep on the plains.January 6–10: Arctic cold grips the heartland.January 11–15: Sunlight returns to the sloped terrain.January 16–20: Ring-necked pheasants call from cover.January 21–25: Deepest cold locks the prairie.January 26–31: Deep winter's pivot point.February 1–5: February's first breath.February 6–10: Subtle shifts in the light.February 11–15: Bald eagles concentrate on open water.February 16–20: Cold rebound before the final thaw.February 21–25: First killdeer return to thawed fields.February 26–28: Winter's veil grows thin.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the land.March 6–10: Hibernators wake to open air.March 11–15: Spring arrives with fury and grace.March 16–20: Sandhill Cranes Rise from the Platte.March 21–25: Equinox — Night and Day Hold Balance.March 26–31: First Green Breaks Through Brown Earth.April 1–5: Thunder Voices Wake the Prairie.April 6–10: Cliff Swallows Return to Mud Nests.April 11–15: Wild Geese Wing North in Massive Flocks.April 16–20: Rainbows Follow Afternoon Storms.April 21–25: Prairie Sedges Push Through Wet Soil.April 26–30: Last Frost Retreats North.May 1–5: Wildflowers Erupt Across the Prairie.May 6–10: Grain Rains Feed the Growing Fields.May 11–15: Seedlings Rise From Frost-Free Soil.May 16–20: Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows.May 21–25: Summer Arrives Early in Wind and Heat.May 26–31: Frogs Begin Their Nightly Chorus.June 1–5: Prairie lightning bugs rise.June 6–10: Earthworms surface after rain.June 11–15: Toward the solstice glow.June 16–20: Lesser ripening, greater heat.June 21–25: Solstice—sun at zenith.June 26–30: Fireflies in the darkening oak.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Warm wind sweeps the tallgrass.July 11–15: Thunder builds every afternoon.July 16–20: Corn tassels and reaches peak.July 21–25: Dog days settle in haze.July 26–31: Katydid chorus erupts at dusk.August 1–5: Great rains sometimes fall.August 6–10: Autumn's edge approaches.August 11–15: Cool wind rises from the north.August 16–20: Late summer wind through tallgrass.August 21–25: Dew settles on the tallgrass.August 26–31: Monarchs gather on prairie.September 1–5: Corn tassels and heavy skies.September 6–10: Purple asters rise on the prairie.September 11–15: Hawks ride thermal currents south.September 16–20: Equinox brings balance to day.September 21–25: Thunder stills across the plains.September 26–30: Snow geese wheel through the flyway.October 1–5: Prairie enters dormancy slowly.October 6–10: Geese gather on autumn waters.October 11–15: First widespread freeze arrives.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Frost deepens through the night.October 26–31: Light rains fall on frozen ground.November 1–5: Tallgrass turns gold.November 6–10: North wind strips the oak.November 11–15: Frost locks the prairie.November 16–20: Open sky grows cold.November 21–25: First snow falls soft.November 26–30: Blizzard drives the herds.December 1–5: Deep winter takes hold.December 6–10: Sky closes cold, winter reigns.December 11–15: Darkness deepens, life retreats.December 16–20: Rivers turn to stone.December 21–25: Solstice — sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coastMay 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Millions of periodical and annual cicadas emerge, their droning chorus filling the summer heat; the soundtrack of midsummer settles over prairie and wetland.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January
February
March
April
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberwinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November
December

A year in weather

The year in Crystal tops out in July (~75°F) and dips lowest in January (~15°F), with June wettest at 4.4 inches and January driest at 1.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January15°1.113
February20°1.211
March31°2.114
April47°3.216
May58°3.917
June68°4.417
July75°3.414
August73°3.614
September64°3.914
October50°2.413
November33°2.214
December19°1.313

Regional context

Crystal swings from 15°F in January to 75°F in July (60°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Crystal runs about 32.7 inches on roughly 168 measurable days.

Precipitation in Crystal runs summer-dominant: June averages 4.4 inches across 16.5 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 1.1 inches over 13.0 rainy days of drier cool air. That puts Crystal in a summer-convective cohort with places like New Hope, MN, Robbinsdale, MN and Brooklyn Center, MN.

Around late-May, Crystal sheds its freezing nights — kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips go into Crystal's beds. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Crystal, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. The season ends by early-October in Crystal, once hard frosts set back in. Crystal's low ground holds frost later into spring than Crystal's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: New Hope, MN, Robbinsdale, MN, Brooklyn Center, MN, Golden Valley, MN, Medicine Lake, MN.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Crystal?
Frost typically leaves Crystal by mid-May and returns to Crystal near mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Crystal?
Rainfall in Crystal peaks in June near 4.4 inches, out of about 33 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Crystal?
On average July tops the year in Crystal at about 75°F.
What is the coldest month in Crystal?
The coldest stretch in Crystal falls in January, around 15°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Crystal?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-May in Crystal; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Crystal get?
Crystal averages about 168 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Crystal?
Because Crystal bottoms near 15°F in January, that winter low sets Crystal's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Crystal?
Crystal's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Crystal?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Crystal in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Crystal?
Current conditions for Crystal and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Crystal forecast updated?
The Crystal forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Crystal?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Crystal are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Crystal?
The next few days in Crystal's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The warm-summer humid continental climate of Crystal, Minnesota carries typical Januarys near 15°F and Julys around 75°F — 60°F of seasonal travel.

Yearly precipitation in Crystal totals around 33 inches, spread over about 168 days of rain or snow.

From 45.0°N, Crystal sees a 60°F seasonal swing that governs Crystal's planting and frost windows.

ZIP codes in Crystal

  • 55422
  • 55427
  • 55429
  • 55428

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.