National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Wave Continues in the West; Critical Fire Weather Conditions in the High Plains

An anomalously early heat wave will continue to intensify and expand across the West and Southwest as the week progresses. Numerous daily and potentially monthly record highs are expected to be broken. Critical fire weather conditions will continue over the next couple of days across portions of the High Plains as gusty winds and dry conditions persist. Read More >

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Current conditions at

Rapid City, Rapid City Regional Airport (KRAP)

Lat: 44.05°NLon: 103.05°WElev: 3202ft.

Fair

78°F

26°C

Humidity 20%
Wind Speed N 15 G 22 mph
Barometer 29.90 in (1011.0 mb)
Dewpoint 34°F (1°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Heat Index77°F (25°C)
Last update 18 Mar 1:52 pm MDT
Extended Forecast for

Ellsworth Air Force Base SD

  • This Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

    High: 74 °F

    Sunny and
    Breezy

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

    Low: 41 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

    High: 79 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    Low: 45 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Friday

    Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

    High: 79 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

    Low: 48 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with a west wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

    High: 82 °F

    Sunny then
    Sunny and
    Breezy

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

    Low: 36 °F

    Breezy.
    Mostly Cloudy
    then Slight
    Chance Rain

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

    High: 53 °F

    Slight Chance
    Rain

Detailed Forecast

This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a northwest wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with a west wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Sunday
A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 64.
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Forecast Area
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ABOUT THIS FORECAST

 
Point Forecast:
Ellsworth Air Force Base SD
 44.15°N 103.07°W (Elev. 3146 ft)
Last Update:
12:32 pm MDT Mar 18, 2026
Forecast Valid:
2pm MDT Mar 18, 2026-6pm MDT Mar 24, 2026
 
Forecast Discussion
 
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Additional Resources

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High Temperature

National Digital Forecast Database Weather Element Forecast

Chance of Precipitation