Weather in Moorhead, Minnesota
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—59°48°
- SundayMay 17Light Rain58%61°43°
- MondayMay 18Heavy Drizzle67%50°41°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Drizzle67%46°41°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—64°38°
- ThursdayMay 21Heavy Drizzle18%59°48°
- FridayMay 22Light Drizzle17%67°53°
- PM 2.5
- 0.5 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 0.5 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 1.0 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 73.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 1.3 Low
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 10:09 AM
- Moonset
- 1:13 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows
Moorhead at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 6°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 27 (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 16, 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
Moorhead's warmest month is July (~71°F mean) and its coldest is January (~8°F). Rainfall peaks in June (4.3 inches) and bottoms out in February (0.7 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| February | 12° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| March | 26° | 1.1″ | 4 |
| April | 42° | 1.6″ | 5 |
| May | 56° | 3.1″ | 10 |
| June | 66° | 4.3″ | 14 |
| July | 71° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| August | 69° | 2.7″ | 9 |
| September | 60° | 2.5″ | 8 |
| October | 45° | 2.2″ | 7 |
| November | 29° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| December | 15° | 0.8″ | 3 |
Regional context
Moorhead sits within a warm-summer humid continental climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN, Rochester, MN, Duluth, MN, St. Cloud, MN.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Moorhead?
- Moorhead's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Moorhead?
- June is the wettest month with about 4.3 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 24 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Moorhead?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 71°F.
- What is the coldest month in Moorhead?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 8°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Moorhead?
- 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 Moorhead get?
- Moorhead averages about 79 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Moorhead?
- Moorhead'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
Moorhead, Minnesota sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 8°F while July averages 71°F — a 63°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Moorhead receives about 24 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 79 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (46.9°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.