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

Extremely Critical Fire Weather in the Central Plains; Active Pattern in the West

Gusty to high winds and low relative humidity will bring critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions to the central and southern Plains today into Wednesday. Use caution with any potential ignition sources. Two Pacific storms will impact the western U.S. into Wednesday with gusty winds, low elevation rain and heavy mountain snow. Read More >

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Current conditions at

Rapid City, Rapid City Regional Airport (KRAP)

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

Fair

47°F

8°C

Humidity 42%
Wind Speed SE 15 mph
Barometer 29.20 in (989.3 mb)
Dewpoint 25°F (-4°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill41°F (5°C)
Last update 17 Feb 9:52 am MST
Extended Forecast for

5 Miles ENE Elm Springs SD

Red Flag Warning February 17, 11:00am until February 17, 06:00pm
Click here for hazard details and duration
Red Flag Warning

  • Today

    Today: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a southeast wind 13 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

    High: 63 °F

    Chance Rain
    and Breezy

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 26. Wind chill values as low as 13. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.

    Low: 26 °F

    Decreasing
    Clouds and
    Windy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 42. Wind chill values as low as 11. Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

    High: 42 °F

    Increasing
    Clouds and
    Breezy

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -6. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Low: 11 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Blustery

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow likely. Patchy blowing snow. Cloudy, with a high near 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    High: 20 °F

    Snow Likely
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 0 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Partly Cloudy

  • Friday

    Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph.

    High: 27 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. East wind around 7 mph becoming west in the evening.

    Low: 7 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

    High: 32 °F

    Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast

Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a southeast wind 13 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 26. Wind chill values as low as 13. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.
Wednesday
Increasing clouds, with a high near 42. Wind chill values as low as 11. Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -6. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Thursday
Snow likely. Patchy blowing snow. Cloudy, with a high near 20. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. East wind around 7 mph becoming west in the evening.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 6.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 10.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 44.
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Forecast Area
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ABOUT THIS FORECAST

 
Point Forecast:
5 Miles ENE Elm Springs SD
 44.35°N 102.39°W (Elev. 2477 ft)
Last Update:
9:52 am MST Feb 17, 2026
Forecast Valid:
10am MST Feb 17, 2026-6pm MST Feb 23, 2026
 
Forecast Discussion
 
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Additional Resources

Radar & Satellite Image

Link to Local Radar Data Link to Satellite Data

Hourly Weather Forecast

National Digital Forecast Database

National Digital Forecast Database Maximum Temperature Forecast

High Temperature

National Digital Forecast Database Weather Element Forecast

Chance of Precipitation