Rochester weather by month
Average highs run from 22°F in January to 80°F in July, and January nights average 7°F. It gets 35 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 53 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 156 times a year. The most comfortable months are May and July to September.
Best time to visit Rochester
For comfortable weather, go in May and July to September. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°F | 7°F | 1.0 in | 12.2 in | 3 | 0 | 31 | very cold |
| February | 27°F | 11°F | 1.0 in | 10.7 in | 3 | 0 | 27 | very cold |
| March | 40°F | 23°F | 2.0 in | 8.6 in | 5 | 0 | 24 | cold |
| April | 55°F | 35°F | 3.5 in | 3.3 in | 7 | 0 | 11 | cool |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.4 in | 0.5 in | 8 | 1 | 1 | mild |
| June | 78°F | 58°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in | 8 | 2 | 0 | warm |
| July | 80°F | 61°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 2 | 0 | warm |
| August | 78°F | 58°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 1 | 0 | warm |
| September | 72°F | 50°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 6 | 0 | 1 | mild |
| October | 58°F | 38°F | 2.4 in | 0.9 in | 5 | 0 | 9 | cool |
| November | 42°F | 26°F | 1.8 in | 4.5 in | 4 | 0 | 23 | cold |
| December | 28°F | 14°F | 1.3 in | 12.4 in | 4 | 0 | 30 | very cold |
| Year | 54°F avg | 36°F avg | 34.7 in | 53.1 in | 65 | 5 | 156 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Rochester Intl. Airport, MN (USW00014925), 8.3 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Rochester
The shortest day is December 21, with 8h 53m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 15h 29m. The earliest sunset comes around December 4 (4:31 pm) and the latest around June 21 (8:56 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 125 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:41 am | 4:57 pm | 9h 16m |
| February | 7:09 am | 5:39 pm | 10h 30m |
| March | 7:22 am | 7:15 pm | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:26 am | 7:53 pm | 13h 27m |
| May | 5:43 am | 8:29 pm | 14h 45m |
| June | 5:26 am | 8:54 pm | 15h 28m |
| July | 5:41 am | 8:49 pm | 15h 09m |
| August | 6:14 am | 8:13 pm | 14h 00m |
| September | 6:49 am | 7:19 pm | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:24 am | 6:25 pm | 11h 01m |
| November | 7:05 am | 4:43 pm | 9h 38m |
| December | 7:38 am | 4:32 pm | 8h 54m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Rochester with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Central Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Rochester getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 2.3°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Rochester.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Rochester?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 80°F and an average low of 61°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Rochester?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 7°F and highs of 23°F.
What is the rainiest month in Rochester?
June gets the most precipitation, 5.4 inches on average. January is the driest at 1.0 inches.
Does it snow in Rochester?
Yes. Rochester averages 53 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Rochester?
For comfortable weather, May and July to September. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Rochester?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Rochester profile.
Compare the weather: Rochester vs Lakeville, Rochester vs Woodbury, Rochester vs Bloomington, Rochester vs St. Paul.