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Exterior Painting Weather in Minnesota: Best Months by City

Exterior Painting season in Minnesota, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Minneapolis leads with 118 workable days a year; St. Cloud runs the shortest at 100.

Minnesota is not one climate: Minneapolis banks 118 workable exterior painting days a year while St. Cloud gets 100 — a spread the table below itemizes month by month. Season boundaries mark the first and last month averaging 8+ workable days against the label rules (50–90°F, nights 35°F+).

If one month anchors the Minnesota calendar it's August, the statewide leader in workable days. Use this page to pick the month, then the city page's 10-day strip to pick the days — and the national exterior painting guide for the physics behind each rule.

Cities in Minnesota

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Minneapolis Aug, Jul, Sep May–October 118
St. Paul Aug, Jul, Sep May–October 113
Rochester Aug, Sep, Jul May–September 105
Duluth Aug, Jul, Sep May–October 101
St. Cloud Aug, Sep, Jul May–September 100
Bloomington Aug, Sep, Jul May–October 117
Brooklyn Park Aug, Sep, Jul May–October 110
Plymouth Aug, Sep, Jul May–October 110

The rules behind these numbers

Typical label thresholds for exterior painting — the single ruleset used by every check on this page.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 50–90°F (low-temp formulas from 35°F) Standard latex wants 50°F+. Some low-temperature formulas are rated down to 35°F.
Overnight low ≥35°F during the first 24 h (≥40°F preferred) Paint keeps curing overnight; a low under 40°F stalls standard latex.
Dry before ≤0.05" rain in the prior 12 h; watch back to 24 h The surface must be dry to the touch and out of a recent soak.
Dry after <0.05" rain for 24 h after Rain inside the first 24 hours can streak or wash fresh paint.
Evening dew-point spread ≥5°F from 6–11 pm Surface should stay at least 5°F above the dew point; dew flat-spots fresh paint.
Daytime humidity ≤80% High humidity extends recoat and cure times.
Wind ≤15 mph (brush only up to 20 mph) Wind dries the leading edge too fast and carries overspray.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.

Other tasks in Minnesota

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