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

Moorhead, Minnesota Weather

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

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

Moorhead, MN
Saturday, July 4 at 6:12 PM
84
°
Clear
Feels like
88°
Humidity
54%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
12:38 AM
Sunset
4:24 PM
Moorhead, MN
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMoorhead, MN: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 63 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 63°H 86°
Moorhead, MN
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Partly Cloudy
    —
    —
    85°64°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Clear
    —
    —
    86°63°+1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    66%
    —
    90°66°+4°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Rain
    66%
    0.10″
    81°63°-9°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    69%
    —
    79°60°-2°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    16%
    —
    76°57°-3°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    18%
    —
    77°59°+1°
Moorhead, MN
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°55°75°95°6p12a6a12pnow 84°high 86°low 63°
Moorhead, MN
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNE
015° · veering 28°
Direction
NNE
015°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
7
mph
Peak 24h
14
avg 3
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 3 · pk 14 @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 156SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Moorhead, MN
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
982.5
-0.2 mb in 3h · steady · 29.01 inHg
Now
982.5
mb
3h
-0.2
mb
12h
+1.8
mb
24h
+2.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 980–983
975980985990-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW983.2980.4982.5
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Moorhead, MN
Air quality
45
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h

AQI 45 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 58 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

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

PM 2.5Good
9.9μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
112μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.3

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 58 — peak already passed at 1 PM under partly cloudy skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 58
UV peak
1.0 at earlier today
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 58

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.9 µg/m³ (AQI 52) with a 0.83 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.83
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³350
Moorhead, MN
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
72.8mi
UNLIMITED
74 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
23:12 UTC · Moorhead, 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
23:12 UTC · Moorhead, MN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Moorhead, MN
Satellite · infrared · animated
Moorhead, MN
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Moorhead, MN
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:00 AM
Sunrise
12:38 AM
Daylight
15h 46m
Sunset
4:24 PM
Civil dusk
10:04 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Moorhead, MN
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
11:33 PM
Moonset
10:25 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Moorhead, MN
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Moorhead at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 19°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: May 27 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 56560, 56562, 56563

16-Day Forecast — Moorhead

  1. Sat85°64°8%
  2. Sun86°63°1%
  3. Mon90°66°66%
  4. Tue81°63°66%
  5. Wed79°60°69%
  6. Thu76°57°16%
  7. Fri77°59°18%
  8. Sat80°54°11%
  9. Sun81°57°8%
  10. Mon86°58°8%
  11. Tue94°63°11%
  12. Wed92°69°11%
  13. Thu86°70°17%
  14. Fri73°63°27%
  15. Sat81°62°17%
  16. Sun88°58°19%

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 — Moorhead

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

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk

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 coast✨May 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
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Moorhead peaks at about 71°F in July and bottoms near 8°F in January; June brings the heaviest rain (4.7 inches) and February the least (0.7 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January8°0.7″3
February13°0.7″2
March27°1.3″4
April43°1.7″4
May57°3.4″6
June67°4.7″7
July71°3.4″6
August70°2.7″5
September60°2.9″5
October45°2.5″5
November29°1.1″3
December15°0.9″2

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Moorhead's January averages 8°F and July 71°F — 63°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 26.1 inches over some 53 days.

Moorhead's rain peaks in summer: June brings 4.7 inches over 7.4 thunderstorm-fed days, while February sees just 0.7 inches across 2.3 days under cooler, drier air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Moorhead shares with places like Dilworth, MN, Sabin, MN and Glyndon, MN.

By late-May the frosts ease in Moorhead, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. In Moorhead, warm-season transplants — tomatoes, peppers, basil — wait two weeks past Moorhead's frost date. Around early-October, freezing nights resume in Moorhead and tender crops must come in. Within Moorhead, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Moorhead's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Dilworth, MN, Sabin, MN, Glyndon, MN, Baker, MN, Comstock, MN.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Moorhead?
Moorhead's last spring frost lands near mid-May, and in Moorhead the first fall frost follows around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Moorhead?
June is the wettest month in Moorhead, about 4.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 26 inches.
What is the warmest month in Moorhead?
The warmest stretch in Moorhead comes in July, around 71°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Moorhead?
On average January is the chilliest month in Moorhead, about 8°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Moorhead?
Moorhead's last frost (mid-May) cues hardy greens; in Moorhead, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Moorhead get?
Expect roughly 53 wet days a year in Moorhead.
What hardiness zone is Moorhead?
Moorhead sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 8°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Moorhead?
Moorhead'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 Moorhead?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Moorhead in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Moorhead?
Current conditions for Moorhead and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Moorhead forecast updated?
The Moorhead forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Moorhead?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Moorhead 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 Moorhead?
The next few days in Moorhead's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Moorhead, Minnesota has a warm-summer humid continental climate: January averages roughly 8°F, July about 71°F, 63°F between them.

In a typical year Moorhead records about 26 inches of precipitation on around 53 days.

At 46.9°N, Moorhead's 63°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Moorhead's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Minnesota →

Fargo, ND weather →

ZIP codes in Moorhead

  • 56560
  • 56563
  • 56562

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.