Rapid City, SD Weather
Rapid City hourly forecast: next 24 hours
Today's high of 97°F (36°C) is about 11°F (6°C) above the typical July high of 86°F (30°C).
Current conditions in detail
Rapid City weather tomorrow (Saturday, July 18)
Tomorrow in Rapid City looks sunny, with a high of 100° and an overnight low of 68°. Rain is unlikely (1% chance). Winds top out near 16 mph, and the UV index reaches 10 (very high).
Rapid City 14-day forecast
About the weather in Rapid City
Rapid City has a semi-arid climate, marked by big day-to-night temperature swings and modest rainfall. Average daytime highs range from about 37°F (3°C) in February to around 86°F (30°C) in July, and the city records roughly 81 days of measurable precipitation a year.
Rapid City weather: quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 86°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: February - highs near 37°F (3°C)
- Record high: 105°F (41°C) · Record low: -21°F (-30°C) (2015–2024)
- Wettest month: May (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.5 h sun/day)
- Climate type: semi-arid - big day-to-night temperature swings and modest rainfall
- Snow: about 22 days a year
Temperatures through the year
The warmest stretch of the year centers on July. Highs average 86°F (30°C) and overnight lows stay near 63°F (17°C). The coolest month is February, with typical highs of 37°F (3°C) and lows around 17°F (-8°C). Based on 2015–2024 weather data, temperatures have reached as high as 105°F (41°C) and dropped as low as -21°F (-30°C).
Rain, sun and snow
May is usually the wettest month. It brings about 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain over 12 days, while January is the driest. July brings the most sunshine, averaging 13.5 hours of sun a day. Snow falls on about 22 days in a typical year, mostly from October through May.
Season by season
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Rapid City is mild, with daytime highs averaging 56°F (13°C) and nights around 35°F (2°C); expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season, plus around 8 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Rapid City runs hot, with daytime highs averaging 83°F (28°C) and nights around 61°F (16°C); expect showers on roughly 24 days across the season.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Rapid City is mild, with daytime highs averaging 61°F (16°C) and nights around 41°F (5°C); rain falls on about 15 days over the three months, plus around 4 snowy days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Rapid City is frigid, with daytime highs averaging 37°F (3°C) and nights around 18°F (-8°C); rain falls on about 15 days over the three months, plus around 10 snowy days. Wind makes those temperatures feel harsher than they sound - pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge conditions on exposed skin.
Average temperatures in Rapid City by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 18° | 4 | 0.5 in | 7.2 h/day | 62% |
| February | 37° | 17° | 6 | 0.9 in | 8.2 h/day | 58% |
| March | 47° | 26° | 6 | 1.1 in | 9.3 h/day | 58% |
| April | 55° | 33° | 9 | 2.4 in | 10.2 h/day | 58% |
| May | 65° | 45° | 12 | 3.4 in | 10.9 h/day | 61% |
| June | 80° | 58° | 9 | 2.6 in | 13.1 h/day | 55% |
| July | 86° | 63° | 8 | 1.6 in | 13.5 h/day | 52% |
| August | 83° | 61° | 6 | 1.6 in | 12.6 h/day | 52% |
| September | 76° | 54° | 5 | 1.1 in | 10.6 h/day | 52% |
| October | 60° | 40° | 6 | 1.5 in | 8.9 h/day | 55% |
| November | 48° | 29° | 4 | 0.6 in | 7.7 h/day | 55% |
| December | 37° | 20° | 5 | 0.9 in | 6.8 h/day | 61% |