CLIMATE
Welcome to the Banana Belt, one of the
mildest climates in the Midwest. Protected by the beautiful
Black Hills, Rapid City residents enjoy low humidity levels
and infrequent precipitation. Extreme temperatures, either
cold or hot, are very rare.
Annual Average Temperature
|
46.6°F
|
Monthly Average High Temperature
January
July
|
34°F
86°F
|
Average Sunny Days
|
275
|
Annual Average Rainfall
|
16.7 inches
|
Annual Average Snowfall
|
39.1 inches
|
Prevailing Winds
|
Northwesterly
|
Average Elevation
|
3,162
|
|
|
|
|
Listed below are precipitation comparisons
with other major cities in the United States. You will see that
Rapid City has a uniquely mild climate. All figures shown are
50 year averages.
Rain
| City |
Inches |
| Boston |
54 |
| Washington |
52 |
| Chicago |
49 |
| Seattle |
41 |
| Buffalo |
40 |
| Minneapolis |
39 |
| Detroit |
38 |
| Milwaukee |
37 |
| Indianapolis |
36 |
| Kansas
City |
33 |
| Dallas |
31 |
| Omaha |
27 |
| Spokane |
23 |
| Denver |
20 |
| Rapid
City |
17 |
| Phoenix |
13 |
|
Snow
| City |
Inches |
| Minneapolis |
102 |
| Buffalo |
93 |
| Denver |
92 |
| Omaha |
48 |
| Milwaukee |
48 |
| Spokane |
44 |
| Chicago |
42 |
| Detroit |
40 |
| Rapid
City |
39 |
| Kansas
City |
36 |
| Boston |
30 |
| Washington |
21 |
| Indianapolis |
15 |
| Dallas |
2 |
|
Perhaps one of the more subtle but pleasant
advantages of moving to Rapid City is its climate. While the Dakotas
have been tagged as the breeding ground for icy blizzards and
scorching summers, it simply isn't so in Rapid City. Protected
by 6,000 and 7,000 foot peaks in the Black Hills, Rapid City enjoys
an envious climatic location.
Summers are warm, but dry, with a long pleasant
fall season. Temperatures can be mild even in the winter months.
January 1992 had a high temperature of 74o F. The temperature
dips below 0o F an average of only 21 days each year.
On this page are charts that show Rapid City's humidity and climatic
averages.
Average Relative Humidity
Comparison
City
|
AM
|
PM
|
| Seattle |
82% |
62% |
| Fargo |
81% |
63% |
| Chicago |
80% |
60% |
| Omaha |
80% |
59% |
| Sioux
Falls |
80% |
59% |
| Minneapolis |
78% |
59% |
| Detroit |
77% |
58% |
| Boston |
72% |
58% |
| Rapid
City |
71% |
50% |
| Salt
Lake City |
67% |
42% |
| Denver |
67% |
39% |
|
Temperature and Precipitation
| Month |
Temp
(o F) |
Precip
(") |
| January |
24 |
0.40 |
| February |
26 |
0.46 |
| March |
34 |
1.01 |
| April |
46 |
2.00 |
| May |
55 |
3.24 |
| June |
65 |
3.36 |
| July |
73 |
2.32 |
| August |
71 |
1.77 |
| September |
61 |
1.19 |
| October |
50 |
0.99 |
| November |
36 |
0.48 |
| December |
28 |
0.38 |
|
|
