Pierre climate
Four-season weather makes the home, vehicle, and daily route part of climate comfort
The NWS Pierre annual report uses 1991-2020 normals and lists an average annual high of 58.9 degrees Fahrenheit, average low of 35.2 degrees, and mean of 47.0 degrees. It records 37.7 days with highs at least 90 degrees, 164.4 days with minimum temperatures at or below freezing, 20.9 nights at or below zero, 20.20 inches of annual precipitation, and 37.2 inches of snow. Pierre is not a one-season retirement climate.
The same report records a period high of 117 degrees, a period low of -35 degrees, and a 2023 gust of 67 mph. Inspect heating, cooling, windows, insulation, roof, pipes, snow storage, drainage, generator or backup power, and the route to care in ice or wind. A pleasant current reading cannot represent the full physical demands of the year.
Living through the seasons
Summers are the easier season. Winter comfort deserves a closer look.
- Overall Comfort
- Moderate
2 / 5
- Average Summer High
- 88°F
- Days Above 90°F
- 43 days/year
- Summer Feel
- Very Good
Warm · 88°F
Good
3.4 / 5
- Average Winter Low
- 15°F / -9°C
- Days Below Freezing
- 158 days/year
- Winter Feel
- Poor
Poor
Poor
1 / 5
The shape of the year
Humidity, comfortable months, and sunshine show how the seasons differ.
- Humidity
- 66%
- Comfortable Months
- 4 months
- Solar Exposure
- 1528 peak sun hrs/yr
Poor
Good
Air, allergies, and weather
Air quality and allergies shape day to day comfort. The best months and weather risks help with timing.
Air and allergies
- Air Quality
- Excellent
- Allergy Levels
- High
4.7 / 5
Poor
Current AQI
Checking…
Current PM2.5
Checking…
Timing and weather
- Long Term Fine Particle Pollution
- 5.1 µg/m³ 2021-2025 modeled average
- Best Months
- May, Jun, Aug, Sep
- Toughest Months
- Feb, Jan, Dec
- Heat Risk
- Moderate
- Drought Risk
- Low
- Weather Volatility
- Moderate
Good · 5.1 µg/m³ 2021-2025 modeled average
Good
3.5 / 5
Pierre in everyday life
Could Pierre work for you?
What may work well
- Four seasons support different outdoor and civic activities, from river recreation to library and capitol programs.
- Indoor aquatics, library life, state institutions, and cultural options provide alternatives when weather closes outdoor plans.
- NWS normals give a clear local reference for heat, cold, snow, precipitation, and freezing-day planning.
What to think about
- Cold, snow, ice, wind, heat, early darkness, and outages affect comfort, energy, driving, and maintenance.
- Heating, roof, pipes, driveway, snow, tree, and backup-power costs can be larger than the seasonal label suggests.
- Climate records are station averages, so the chosen home still needs its own exposure, shade, drainage, and route review.
Live a Pierre week in the hardest weather
Stay through heat
Run errands and care routes in the afternoon. Check shade, water, HVAC, ventilation, sleep comfort, indoor alternatives, and power reliability.
Inspect winter handling
Check heating, pipes, insulation, windows, driveway, sidewalks, snow storage, roof, parking, ice, and the home's insurance.
Plan for wind and outages
Ask about roof, trees, windows, generator, medication, food, communications, shelter, and the time needed to reach family or care.
Use the seasonal calendar
Compare river walks, library events, capitol visits, indoor recreation, parks, and regional outings across heat, snow, wind, early darkness, and storm recovery.
Questions retirees ask
Is Pierre's climate comfortable?
Pierre offers sunny seasonal variety, but its year includes hot days, deep cold, wind, snow, ice, and long freezing periods. NWS normals show a 47.0 degree annual mean, 37.7 hot days, 164.4 freezing nights, and 37.2 inches of snow.
How cold does Pierre get?
The NWS record period includes a low of -35 degrees, and normals include 20.9 nights at or below zero. Check heating, pipes, insulation, car access, snow removal, emergency power, and the winter care route.
What should I inspect in a Pierre home?
Check heating, cooling, insulation, windows, roof, pipes, driveway, sidewalks, snow storage, drainage, wind exposure, backup power, insurance, and the route to Avera during ice or wind.
Pierre rewards a retiree who enjoys distinct seasons and plans the home accordingly. The best fit is a house and vehicle that handle heat, deep cold, snow, wind, outages, and the route to care without costly improvisation.
Sources
Climate comfort helps estimate how practical daily life may feel across the year, especially for heat, humidity, cold, and seasonal constraints.
Seasonal timing, health conditions, air conditioning, air quality, and elevation can change the lived experience.
- NASA POWER
Used for Overall Comfort, Summer Feel, Average Summer High, Days Above 90°F, Winter Feel, Average Winter Low, Days Below Freezing, Humidity, Comfortable Months, Solar Exposure, Best Months, Toughest Months, Allergy Levels, Heat Risk
- Open-Meteo Air Quality + Humidity Heuristic
Used for Air Quality, Long-Term Fine-Particle Pollution, Weather Volatility
Checked 2026-07-10
- Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index
Used for Drought Risk
Partnerships never affect rankings, scores, methodology, or inclusion.
Partner with Retirement ListsResearch and writing byGrant Gibson
How this city research is made
Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.