Rapid City weather by month
Average highs run from 36°F in January to 86°F in July, and January nights average 13°F. It gets 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 48 inches of snow. Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Nights drop below freezing about 174 times a year. The most comfortable months are June and August to September.
Best time to visit Rapid City
For comfortable weather, go in June and August to September. In those months the average high stays between 62°F and 86°F, nights average 42°F or warmer, and rain stays under 4.5 inches for the month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Snow | Wet days | Days 90°F+ | Nights below 32°F | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36°F | 13°F | 0.3 in | 5.3 in | 1 | 0 | 30 | cold |
| February | 38°F | 14°F | 0.5 in | 7.7 in | 2 | 0 | 27 | cold |
| March | 48°F | 23°F | 0.9 in | 8.4 in | 2 | 0 | 26 | cool |
| April | 57°F | 31°F | 2.1 in | 10.1 in | 5 | 0 | 16 | cool |
| May | 67°F | 42°F | 3.5 in | 1.5 in | 7 | 1 | 4 | mild days, chilly nights |
| June | 78°F | 52°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 7 | 4 | 0 | warm |
| July | 86°F | 59°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | 5 | 12 | 0 | warm |
| August | 85°F | 56°F | 1.6 in | 0.0 in | 4 | 11 | 0 | warm |
| September | 76°F | 46°F | 1.2 in | 0.1 in | 3 | 4 | 1 | warm |
| October | 60°F | 34°F | 1.4 in | 3.0 in | 3 | 0 | 13 | cool |
| November | 47°F | 22°F | 0.5 in | 5.7 in | 1 | 0 | 26 | cold |
| December | 37°F | 14°F | 0.4 in | 6.7 in | 1 | 0 | 30 | cold |
| Year | 60°F avg | 34°F avg | 17.4 in | 48.5 in | 41 | 32 | 174 |
"Wet days" are days with at least 0.1 inch of precipitation. "Feels" is a plain-language label for the average high. Normals for 1991-2020 from NOAA NCEI, station Rapid City Regional Airport, SD (USW00024090), 7.9 miles from the city center. Averages describe typical conditions, not a forecast.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Rapid City
The shortest day is December 21, with 8h 52m of daylight; the longest is June 21, with 15h 29m. The earliest sunset comes around December 3 (4:14 pm) and the latest around June 20 (8:39 pm). The sun sets after 8 pm on 100 days a year.
| On the 15th of | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 am | 4:40 pm | 9h 16m |
| February | 6:52 am | 5:22 pm | 10h 30m |
| March | 7:05 am | 6:58 pm | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:09 am | 7:36 pm | 13h 27m |
| May | 5:26 am | 8:12 pm | 14h 46m |
| June | 5:09 am | 8:37 pm | 15h 28m |
| July | 5:24 am | 8:33 pm | 15h 09m |
| August | 5:56 am | 7:56 pm | 14h 00m |
| September | 6:32 am | 7:02 pm | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:07 am | 6:08 pm | 11h 00m |
| November | 6:48 am | 4:25 pm | 9h 37m |
| December | 7:21 am | 4:14 pm | 8h 54m |
Calculated for 2026 at the center of Rapid City with NOAA's solar equations, in local clock time (Mountain Time, including daylight saving time where it applies). Times shift by a minute or two from year to year.
Is Rapid City getting warmer?
The last 10 years averaged 1.9°F warmer than the 20th century. See the climate stripes for Rapid City.Frequently asked questions
What is the warmest month in Rapid City?
July is the warmest month, with an average high of 86°F and an average low of 59°F (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).
What is the coldest month in Rapid City?
January is the coldest, with average lows of 13°F and highs of 36°F.
What is the rainiest month in Rapid City?
May gets the most precipitation, 3.5 inches on average. January is the driest at 0.3 inches.
Does it snow in Rapid City?
Yes. Rapid City averages 49 inches of snow a year.
When is the best time to visit Rapid City?
For comfortable weather, June and August to September. Those months average highs between 62 and 86°F with lows of 42°F or more and modest rain.
Thinking of moving to Rapid City?
See what homes, rent and everyday prices cost, who lives there and how it compares with nearby cities on the full Rapid City profile.
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