Rapid City in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Rapid City sees average daytime highs around 79°F and overnight lows near 56°F, with 9.3 in of rain over about 39 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 70°F in early June to 80°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Rapid City's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Rapid City's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 79°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 56°F
- Rainfall
- 9.3 in
- 39 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 mph
- Travel score
- 6.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Rapid City in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 70°F in early June to 80°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Rapid City reaches about 79°F and drops to 56°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Rapid City
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
summer sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Rapid City weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) 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 Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Rapid City gets around 9.3 in of rain over 39 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 7 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 15 hours in early June to 13 h 06 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 6.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Rapid City
In summer, 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 summer a good time to visit Rapid City?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Rapid City for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Rapid City in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Rapid City sees daytime highs around 79°F and nights near 56°F. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 39 days see rain.
UV index in Rapid City in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 8 — 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.