Cold steppe climate
Climate Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB - South Dakota
Annual high60ºF
Annual low34ºF
Precipitation16.29 inch
| Month | HighºF | LowºF | Precipinch | Snowinch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 13 | 0.30 | 4 |
| Feb | 40 | 15 | 0.44 | 6 |
| Mar | 48 | 23 | 0.93 | 9 |
| Apr | 58 | 32 | 1.80 | 8 |
| May | 68 | 42 | 3.22 | 1 |
| Jun | 78 | 51 | 2.53 | 0 |
| Jul | 87 | 58 | 1.85 | 0 |
| Aug | 86 | 57 | 1.56 | 0 |
| Sep | 76 | 46 | 1.29 | 0 |
| Oct | 61 | 34 | 1.42 | 2 |
| Nov | 47 | 22 | 0.53 | 6 |
| Dec | 37 | 13 | 0.42 | 5 |
- JanHigh 37ºFLow 13ºFPrecip 0.30 inch
- FebHigh 40ºFLow 15ºFPrecip 0.44 inch
- MarHigh 48ºFLow 23ºFPrecip 0.93 inch
- AprHigh 58ºFLow 32ºFPrecip 1.80 inch
- MayHigh 68ºFLow 42ºFPrecip 3.22 inch
- JunHigh 78ºFLow 51ºFPrecip 2.53 inch
- JulHigh 87ºFLow 58ºFPrecip 1.85 inch
- AugHigh 86ºFLow 57ºFPrecip 1.56 inch
- SepHigh 76ºFLow 46ºFPrecip 1.29 inch
- OctHigh 61ºFLow 34ºFPrecip 1.42 inch
- NovHigh 47ºFLow 22ºFPrecip 0.53 inch
- DecHigh 37ºFLow 13ºFPrecip 0.42 inch
Climate summary
What is the average weather in Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota?
Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB experiences a cold semi-arid climate, marked by very large seasonal temperature contrasts. Winters are cold and bring significant snowfall, while summers are warm. The area is generally dry, with precipitation being low overall, though spring is notably wetter than other seasons.
Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB weather averages
Annual high60ºF
Annual low34ºF
Precipitation16.29 inch
Snowfall41 inch
Daily normals Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB - South Dakota - January
| Day | HighºF | LowºF | Prec/ | Prec/ | Snow/ | Snow/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | 35.6 | 12.6 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| Jan 2 | 35.7 | 12.6 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.40 | 0.40 |
| Jan 3 | 35.7 | 12.6 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Jan 4 | 35.7 | 12.6 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.70 | 0.70 |
| Jan 5 | 35.8 | 12.7 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.90 | 0.90 |
| Jan 6 | 35.8 | 12.7 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 1.10 | 1.10 |
| Jan 7 | 35.8 | 12.7 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 1.30 | 1.30 |
| Jan 8 | 35.9 | 12.7 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
| Jan 9 | 35.9 | 12.7 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 1.60 | 1.60 |
| Jan 10 | 35.9 | 12.7 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 1.80 | 1.80 |
| Jan 11 | 36.0 | 12.7 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Jan 12 | 36.0 | 12.8 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 2.10 | 2.10 |
| Jan 13 | 36.0 | 12.8 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 2.30 | 2.30 |
| Jan 14 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 2.40 | 2.40 |
| Jan 15 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 2.60 | 2.60 |
| Jan 16 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.16 | 0.16 | 2.70 | 2.70 |
| Jan 17 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 2.90 | 2.90 |
| Jan 18 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Jan 19 | 36.1 | 12.8 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 3.20 | 3.20 |
| Jan 20 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 3.40 | 3.40 |
| Jan 21 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Jan 22 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 3.70 | 3.70 |
| Jan 23 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 3.90 | 3.90 |
| Jan 24 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Jan 25 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 4.20 | 4.20 |
| Jan 26 | 36.1 | 12.7 | 0.26 | 0.26 | 4.40 | 4.40 |
| Jan 27 | 36.1 | 12.6 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 4.60 | 4.60 |
| Jan 28 | 36.1 | 12.6 | 0.28 | 0.28 | 4.80 | 4.80 |
| Jan 29 | 36.1 | 12.6 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 4.90 | 4.90 |
| Jan 30 | 36.1 | 12.6 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 5.10 | 5.10 |
| Jan 31 | 36.1 | 12.6 | 0.31 | 0.31 | 5.30 | 5.30 |
Precipitation and snow add up through the month (/mo) and the year (/yr)
Weather history Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB - October 2026
| Day | HighºF | LowºF | Precip.inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | 62.1 | 43.0 | 0.00 |
| Oct 2 | 75.9 | 44.1 | 0.00 |
| Oct 3 | 75.0 | 45.0 | 0.00 |
| Oct 4 | – | – | – |
| Oct 5 | – | – | – |
| Oct 6 | – | – | – |
| Oct 7 | 82.9 | 42.1 | 0.00 |
| Oct 8 | 78.1 | 42.1 | 0.00 |
| Oct 9 | 93.0 | 42.1 | 0.00 |
| Oct 10 | 91.0 | 55.9 | 0.00 |
| Oct 11 | 57.9 | 46.9 | 0.01 |
| Oct 12 | 55.0 | 39.9 | 0.03 |
| Oct 13 | 53.1 | 39.0 | 0.06 |
| Oct 14 | 55.9 | 42.1 | 0.02 |
| Oct 15 | 55.0 | 39.0 | T |
| Oct 16 | 63.0 | 27.0 | 0.00 |
| Oct 17 | – | – | – |
| Oct 18 | 69.1 | 37.9 | 0.00 |
| Oct 19 | – | – | – |
| Oct 20 | – | – | – |
| Oct 21 | 73.0 | 43.0 | 0.00 |
| Oct 22 | 82.0 | 46.9 | 0.00 |
| Oct 23 | 84.0 | 46.0 | T |
| Oct 24 | 54.0 | 28.9 | 0.00 |
| Oct 25 | 43.0 | 30.9 | 0.04 |
| Oct 26 | 35.1 | 30.9 | 0.13 |
| Oct 27 | 62.1 | 30.9 | 0.00 |
| Oct 28 | 61.0 | 33.1 | 0.01 |
| Oct 29 | – | – | – |
| Oct 30 | – | – | – |
| Oct 31 | – | – | – |
The data for October 2026 is incomplete: some days or values are missing.
- –No data
- –Not yet observed or received
- TTrace, too small to measure
Observed extremes
- Highest max temperature93.0ºF · Oct 9
- Lowest max temperature35.1ºF · Oct 26
- Highest min temperature55.9ºF · Oct 10
- Lowest min temperature27.0ºF · Oct 16
Geo Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB - South Dakota
Location
- Country
- United States
- State
- South Dakota
- County
- Meade
- City
- Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB
- Zip Code
- 57769
- Elevation
- 3222 ft
- Longitude
- -103.10
- Latitude
- 44.15
- ICAO
- –
- IATA
- –