Weather in Bismarck is typical of that found in the Great Plains (the area located between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes) - generally winters are long and cold with a bit of snowfall and summers are hot and humid. Fall is a great time to visit, due to the temperate climate and dry days, although if canoeing is your thing, the spring and early summer would be your best bet to idle down the Missouri River. June is the wettest month and December is the driest, whereas July and January are the hottest and coldest months, respectively.