Weather in Tea, South Dakota
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Overcast13%83°52°
- SundayMay 17Light Rain43%78°55°
- MondayMay 18Light Drizzle70%59°46°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Drizzle70%53°41°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—64°37°
- ThursdayMay 21Light Drizzle—65°46°
- FridayMay 22Drizzle24%64°53°
- PM 2.5
- 6.1 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 7.5 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 2.0 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 95.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.0 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 11:03 AM
- Moonset
- 2:21 AM
- In sign
- ♊︎ Gemini
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows
Tea at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 70°F — typical for the season
- Last frost: May 7 (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
Tea's warmest month is July (~74°F mean) and its coldest is January (~16°F). Rainfall peaks in June (4.6 inches) and bottoms out in January (0.7 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| February | 21° | 0.8″ | 3 |
| March | 33° | 1.5″ | 5 |
| April | 46° | 3.0″ | 10 |
| May | 59° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| June | 70° | 4.6″ | 15 |
| July | 74° | 3.3″ | 11 |
| August | 72° | 3.3″ | 11 |
| September | 63° | 3.0″ | 10 |
| October | 49° | 2.3″ | 8 |
| November | 34° | 1.2″ | 4 |
| December | 22° | 0.8″ | 3 |
Regional context
Tea 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: Sioux Falls, SD, Rapid City, SD, Aberdeen, SD, Brookings, SD, Watertown, SD.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Tea?
- Tea's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Tea?
- June is the wettest month with about 4.6 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 28 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Tea?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Tea?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 16°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Tea?
- 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 Tea get?
- Tea averages about 94 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Tea?
- Tea'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
Tea, South Dakota sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 16°F while July averages 74°F — a 58°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Tea receives about 28 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 94 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (43.5°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.