Weather in Gem Lake, Minnesota
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Mostly Clear—77°50°
- SundayMay 17Light Rain54%64°50°
- MondayMay 18Rain82%61°55°
- TuesdayMay 19Drizzle82%54°45°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—60°44°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast14%65°45°
- FridayMay 22Drizzle14%55°48°
- PM 2.5
- 4.2 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 4.9 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 3.2 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 96.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.1 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 10:41 AM
- Moonset
- 2:12 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows
Gem Lake at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 68°F — typical for the season
- Last frost: May 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Cool-season window is open
As of May 17, the cool-season window is open or about to open. Direct-sow peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and brassicas now. Hold off on warm-season crops until 1–2 weeks after the last spring frost (around May).
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Gem Lake's warmest month is July (~73°F mean) and its coldest is January (~16°F). Rainfall peaks in June (4.6 inches) and bottoms out in January (0.5 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 0.5″ | 1 |
| February | 21° | 0.5″ | 1 |
| March | 33° | 1.4″ | 4 |
| April | 47° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| May | 59° | 4.0″ | 8 |
| June | 69° | 4.6″ | 8 |
| July | 73° | 4.0″ | 6 |
| August | 71° | 4.1″ | 6 |
| September | 63° | 3.1″ | 5 |
| October | 49° | 2.5″ | 5 |
| November | 35° | 1.3″ | 3 |
| December | 22° | 0.7″ | 2 |
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Gem Lake?
- Gem Lake's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Gem Lake?
- June is the wettest month with about 4.6 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 29 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Gem Lake?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 73°F.
- What is the coldest month in Gem Lake?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 16°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Gem Lake?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-May); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Gem Lake get?
- Gem Lake averages about 54 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Gem Lake?
- Gem Lake's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Gem Lake, Minnesota sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 16°F while July averages 73°F — a 57°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Gem Lake receives about 29 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 54 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (45.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.