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

44°F

7°C

Humidity 60%
Wind Speed W 9 mph
Barometer 29.93 in (1013.1 mb)
Dewpoint 31°F (-1°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Wind Chill39°F (4°C)
Last update 18 Mar 5:52 am MDT
Extended Forecast for

Rapid City SD

  • Today

    Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.

    High: 75 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

    Low: 41 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

    High: 80 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 6 to 9 mph.

    Low: 48 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Friday

    Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

    High: 78 °F

    Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming southwest in the evening.

    Low: 50 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 6 to 14 mph becoming north in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

    High: 82 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

    Low: 36 °F

    Mostly Cloudy
    then Slight
    Chance
    Rain/Snow

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A slight chance of snow before noon, then a slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

    High: 54 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Slight Chance
    Rain

Detailed Forecast

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 41. West wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming southwest in the evening.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind 6 to 14 mph becoming north in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Sunday
A slight chance of snow before noon, then a slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 62.
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Forecast Area
Tiles ©ESRI

ABOUT THIS FORECAST

 
Point Forecast:
Rapid City SD
 44.08°N 103.24°W (Elev. 3291 ft)
Last Update:
4:48 am MDT Mar 18, 2026
Forecast Valid:
6am MDT Mar 18, 2026-6pm MDT Mar 24, 2026
 
Forecast Discussion
 
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Additional Resources

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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