Bismarck's winters are bitterly cold, with temperatures often plummeting below -20°C in January and February. Spring arrives gradually in March, with temperatures slowly warming up towards the end of the month. Summer is warm and sunny, with July being the hottest month, but even then temperatures rarely soar above 41°C. Autumn brings a return to cooler temperatures, with October and November experiencing average highs around freezing point. By December, winter's chill has returned, with temperatures dropping below -30°C on occasion.