South Dakota has a continental climate with four distinct seasons, ranging from USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3b through 5b. Temperatures can vary per different areas of the state so get to know which zone your city is located in so that you can address and avoid potential issues before they become problematic.
The USDA zones map is a useful system for determining what plants will survive and grow in certain areas of South Dakota.
Understanding how these hardiness zones work means you can choose the right planting time, and optimize growing for your climate.
During the summers, the state’s average high temperature is often close to 90 °F (32 °C), although it cools to near 60 °F (16 °C) at night.
It is not unusual for South Dakota to have severe hot, dry spells in the summer with the temperature climbing above 100 °F (38 °C) several times a year.
Winters are cold with January high temperatures averaging below freezing and low temperatures averaging below 10 °F (−12 °C) in most of the state.