Weather in Mendota, Minnesota
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Mostly Clear—79°55°
- SundayMay 17Light Rain57%62°52°
- MondayMay 18Light Rain84%63°56°
- TuesdayMay 19Drizzle84%55°46°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—63°46°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast14%66°46°
- FridayMay 22Drizzle14%56°49°
- PM 2.5
- 6.1 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 7.2 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 5.4 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 101.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.1 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 10:42 AM
- Moonset
- 2:12 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows
Mendota at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 4°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 15 (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
Mendota's warmest month is July (~74°F mean) and its coldest is January (~15°F). Rainfall peaks in June (4.8 inches) and bottoms out in February (0.9 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| February | 19° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| March | 32° | 1.6″ | 5 |
| April | 46° | 3.3″ | 7 |
| May | 59° | 4.3″ | 8 |
| June | 69° | 4.8″ | 8 |
| July | 74° | 4.6″ | 7 |
| August | 71° | 4.5″ | 6 |
| September | 63° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| October | 48° | 3.0″ | 6 |
| November | 33° | 1.7″ | 4 |
| December | 21° | 1.3″ | 4 |
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Mendota?
- Mendota's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Mendota?
- June is the wettest month with about 4.8 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 34 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Mendota?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Mendota?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 15°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Mendota?
- 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 Mendota get?
- Mendota averages about 66 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Mendota?
- Mendota'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
Mendota, Minnesota sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 15°F while July averages 74°F — a 59°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Mendota receives about 34 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 66 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (44.9°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.