Pool swim season in Fergus Falls, MN

Fergus Falls, MN: how long the pool season really is

An unheated pool in Fergus Falls never reaches 78°F in a normal year. It peaks around 72°F in Jul. The air allows up to 4 swimmable months with a heater (Jun to Sep).

1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D

Heater options for a Fergus Falls pool, side by side

For a 450 sq ft pool held at 80°F, at MN prices of 16.4¢/kWh electricity and $11/Mcf gas. All-in spreads the purchase over the equipment's life.

The cheapest way to the full season in Fergus Falls

Solar panels + cover: 3 of 4 possible months for about $283 a year all-in, which works out near $94 for each month it adds.

Before you pay for any heater, buy a solar cover: on its own it adds 1 month here for about $50 a year (why a cover comes first). If you get quotes, ask for gas as well as a heat pump: once the purchase price is counted, gas comes out cheaper all-in here (heat pump or gas).

Weather station: Fergus Falls, 2 mi away (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). Water temperature is estimated from air and sunshine, not measured.

Fergus Falls month by month: air, sun and pool water

Heating costs most in Jun (about $91 with a heat pump, $124 with gas). Sunshine peaks in Jul at 6.5 kWh/m²/day (NASA satellite data, 40.4 km grid cell). Highlighted months are swimmable with no heater.

How Fergus Falls compares with nearby cities

Fergus Falls ranks 84 of 103 Minnesota cities for unheated swim months, and no nearby city gets a longer unheated season.