Rapid City, SD

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English: Skyline of Rapid City, South Dakota, taken from Hillcrest Drive
WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Today’s Forecast:

☀
34°F
High: 38° | Low: 34°
Current Temperature
Clear
Station: KRAP
Observed at: 6:52 pm CST on 11/12/26
Wind: 7 mph | Humidity: 96%

Tonight:Areas of fog after 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday:Areas of fog before 11am. Partly sunny. High near 55, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. Southeast wind 3 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Friday Night:Mostly cloudy. Low around 38, with temperatures rising to around 40 overnight. South wind 8 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

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Today’s Report:

🥾 Hiking

Excellent
  94 /100

Excellent for hiking. High near 54°F. Light wind (13 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Excellent 100/100
Excellent for hiking. High near 55°F. Light wind (16 mph).

🚲 Biking

Excellent
  85 /100

Excellent for biking. High near 54°F. Light wind (13 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Good 82/100
Good for biking. High near 55°F. Breezy winds (16 mph).

🎪 Outdoor Events / Activities

Good
  79 /100

Good for outdoor events / activities. High near 54°F. Light wind (13 mph).

  • Temp: Marginal weather factor
  • Rain: Favorable conditions
  • Wind: Favorable conditions
  • Thunderstorm: Favorable conditions
Tomorrow's Outlook:
Good 76/100
Good for outdoor events / activities. High near 55°F. Breezy winds (16 mph).


About Rapid City

Rapid City is the main western South Dakota outdoor hub, with city parks, bike paths, nearby foothill trails, family attractions, and fast access to the Black Hills.

Make the Most of a Rapid City Day

Use Rapid City as a flexible base: stay close to town when storms are likely, or head into the hills when the forecast looks stable enough for longer drives and trails.

Weather Tips for Rapid City

  • Prairie wind, urban heat, and fast-building Black Hills storms can all affect whether a city park, bike route, or hill-country day trip is the better plan.
  • If thunderstorms are possible, finish ridge, overlook, and scenic-drive stops early and keep shelter close.
  • Open bike routes can feel much harder with prairie wind or summer heat, so check wind as closely as temperature.
  • Check road and trail conditions in shoulder seasons because snow, ice, or downed branches can linger in shaded areas.

Nearby Towns and Areas

This page can also be useful when planning outdoor time near:

  • Dinosaur Park
  • Canyon Lake Park
  • Founders Park
  • Keystone
  • Mount Rushmore
  • Custer State Park
  • Badlands gateway routes

Plan Around the Conditions

Use the forecast to choose the best version of Rapid City rather than forcing one itinerary. Match wind, rain timing, temperature, storms, water conditions, trail surfaces, and road conditions to the activity that gives your group the most comfortable day.

7-Day Forecast for Rapid City

☀
34°F
High: 38° | Low: 34°
Current Temperature
Clear
Station: KRAP
Observed at: 6:52 pm CST on 11/12/26
Wind: 7 mph | Humidity: 96%
Fri 🌫
55° 38°
0%
Sat ⛅
55° 39°
0%
Sun ☀
61° 39°
1%
Mon ⛅
66° 42°
0%
Tue ⛅
63° 38°
0%
Wed 🌧
53° 37°
42%
Thu 🌧
52° --°
15%

7-Day High Temperature Trend

55° Fri 55° Sat 61° Sun 66° Mon 63° Tue 53° Wed 52° Thu

7-Day Low Temperature Trend

38° Fri 39° Sat 39° Sun 42° Mon 38° Tue 37° Wed 50° Thu

📊 7-Day Outdoor Outlook

Good Fair Poor 100 Fri 100 Sat 100 Sun 100 Mon 100 Tue 80 Wed 80 Thu
Forecast data from the National Weather Service  |  Last Updated: November 12, 2026 9:55 pm CST