Rapid City in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Rapid City sees average daytime highs around 55°F and overnight lows near 33°F, with 9.2 in of precipitation over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 41°F in early March to 68°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Rapid City's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Rapid City's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 55°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 33°F
- Precipitation
- 9.2 in
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 mph
- Travel score
- 3.2
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Rapid City in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 41°F in early March to 68°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Rapid City reaches about 55°F and drops to 33°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Rapid City
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 65 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Rapid City weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36° / 17° | 0.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 9.1 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 38° / 18° | 0.7 | 5 | 5.1 | 10.2 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 46° / 25° | 1.6 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 11.6 | 1.4 |
| Apr | 54° / 32° | 3.2 | 11.8 | 5.5 | 13.2 | 3.1 |
| May | 64° / 42° | 4.4 | 14.1 | 1.2 | 14.5 | 5.0 |
| Jun | 74° / 52° | 3.8 | 14.5 | 0.1 | 15.2 | 6.1 |
| Jul | 82° / 58° | 3.1 | 13.4 | 0 | 15 | 5.9 |
| Aug | 81° / 56° | 2.4 | 10.9 | 0 | 13.8 | 6.7 |
| Sep | 72° / 47° | 1.6 | 6.7 | 0.4 | 12.3 | 7.4 |
| Oct | 58° / 36° | 2.0 | 7.3 | 2.7 | 10.8 | 4.7 |
| Nov | 46° / 25° | 0.8 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 1.3 |
| Dec | 37° / 18° | 0.6 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 8.8 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Rapid City gets around 9.2 in of rain and snow over 34 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 8 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min in early March to 15 hours by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Rapid City
In spring, Rapid City overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Rapid City's rainy season runs April–August, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is spring a good time to visit Rapid City?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Rapid City.
What to pack for Rapid City in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Rapid City sees daytime highs around 55°F and nights near 33°F. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat, rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
UV index in Rapid City in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rapid City peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | High |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 6 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Where is Rapid City?
Rapid City sits at 44.1°N, 103.2°W, 3,241 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Gillette, 114 mi away.
Topography around Rapid City
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Rapid City.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Rapid City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 719 ft around an average of 3,340 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,008 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,108 ft.
The land around Rapid City is covered by artificial surfaces (49%) and grassland (33%) within 2 miles, grassland (64%) and trees (24%) within 10 miles, and grassland (69%) and trees (22%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Rapid City (44.0805°, -103.231°, elevation 3,241 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.