South Dakota Historical Weather Data & Climate

Historical Climate Data for 2 Cities  •  1981–2025

°F / °C

South Dakota Climate Overview

South Dakota has an average annual temperature of 50.4°F (across all 2 cities) with approximately 556 mm of annual precipitation and average humidity of 65%. The warmest city is Rapid City with average July highs of 103.3°F, while Sioux Falls is the coldest with average January lows of -12.3°F. This page covers 45 years of NASA POWER climate data (1981–2025) including temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.

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Quick Climate Facts

(1981 – 2025)
Hottest City
🔥
Rapid City
Jul High: 103.3°F
Coldest City
❄️
Sioux Falls
Jan Low: -12.3°F
Wettest City
💧
Sioux Falls
652 mm/yr
Driest City
🏜️
Rapid City
459 mm/yr
Hottest Month
🌞
Jul
Avg High: 100.6°F
Coldest Month
🧊
Jan
Avg Low: -6.3°F
Cities With Data
🏙️
2
cities in South Dakota
Data Coverage
📅
45 yrs
1981 – 2025

🏙️ Cities in South Dakota — Weather History

📅 South Dakota Monthly Climate Averages

🌡️ State-Wide Monthly Temperature

Average across all 2 cities · 1981–2025 · °F

🌧️ Monthly Precipitation

State-wide average · mm/month

📖 South Dakota Seasonal Climate Guide

Jul is typically the warmest month across South Dakota with average highs around 100.6°F, while Jan is the coldest with average lows near -6.3°F. Jun is the wettest month with approximately 90 mm of rainfall on average.
MonthMax TempMin TempAvg Temp Rain (mm)HumidityWind (m/s)Solar (kWh/m²)
Jan 51.1°F -6.3°F 22.3°F 12 76% 3.3 2.00
Feb 58.6°F -3.5°F 27.7°F 14 71% 3.4 3.00
Mar 71.2°F 8.1°F 39.7°F 34 65% 3.6 3.90
Apr 81.7°F 20.1°F 50.9°F 63 61% 3.7 5.00
May 88.9°F 32°F 60.4°F 87 61% 3.3 5.80
Jun 96.1°F 45.1°F 70.7°F 90 60% 2.9 6.60
Jul 100.6°F 52.5°F 76.6°F 68 57% 2.6 6.70
Aug 99°F 50.2°F 74.7°F 62 58% 2.5 5.70
Sep 93.7°F 36.9°F 65.3°F 51 57% 2.9 4.50
Oct 81.9°F 22.8°F 52.3°F 47 63% 3.1 3.10
Nov 66°F 11.1°F 38.5°F 21 69% 3.1 2.00
Dec 50.9°F -2.4°F 24.3°F 16 76% 3.2 1.60

📈 South Dakota Yearly Climate Trends

🌡️ Annual Temperature Trend

State-wide avg annual high & low · Last 10 years

📈 South Dakota Long-Term Climate Trends (1981–2025)

This chart shows how South Dakota's average temperatures have shifted across 45 years. Use the range buttons to focus on recent decades or view the full historical record. Data is averaged across all 2 cities in the state.

🌧️ Annual Precipitation Trend

State-wide avg annual precipitation · Last 10 years · mm/year

🔗 Explore Cities in South Dakota

Browse detailed weather history, monthly averages, and 45-year climate trends for every city in South Dakota.

Looking for another state? 🇺🇸 Explore All US States & Cities →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hottest city in South Dakota?
Rapid City is the hottest city in South Dakota with an average July high of 103.3°F based on 45 years of data. View Rapid City weather history →
What is the coldest city in South Dakota?
Sioux Falls is the coldest city with average January lows of -12.3°F. View Sioux Falls weather history →
Which city in South Dakota gets the most rain?
Sioux Falls is the wettest city in South Dakota with approximately 652 mm of annual precipitation on average. View Sioux Falls weather history →
What is the warmest month in South Dakota?
Jul is the warmest month across South Dakota, with state-wide average highs of 100.6°F and average lows of 52.5°F.
How many cities in South Dakota have weather data?
TownPillar has historical weather data for 2 cities in South Dakota, covering 45 years of NASA POWER climate records from 1981 to 2025.
Which month has the most sunshine in South Dakota?
Jul is the sunniest month across South Dakota with an average solar radiation of 6.70 kWh/m²/day state-wide. This solar radiation data from NASA POWER is useful for solar energy planning, agriculture, and understanding seasonal sunshine availability.
Where does this climate data come from?
All data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis data. It includes monthly temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation at 0.5° × 0.625° spatial resolution.

📚 Data Source

All weather data is sourced from NASA POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources). Data covers 45 years (1981–2025) across 2 cities in South Dakota at monthly temporal resolution.