Wind Cave National Park Weather Page

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Wind Cave National Park Weather Information

Spring and fall weather are the most variable with cool, damp days alternating with dry, warm ones. Summers are generally sunny, hot, and dry. Winters are generally mild with little snow, but occasional sub-zero temperatures can be expected. Dress appropriately for the season.

Persons touring the cave should wear low-heeled walking shoes with nonskid soles and a lightweight jacket or sweater. The cave temperature is normally 53° F / 12° C.

The Black Hills are sometimes described as an island rising within a sea of grass. This sudden rise in elevation and the resulting slopes and exposures produce a much different climate than the surrounding plains. Wind Cave National Park lies on the southern tip of the "island" and, like the rest of the southern hills, has weather patterns that are greatly influenced by the Rocky Mountains to the west and the higher peaks of the northern Black Hills. Generally, the climate is semi-arid with mild winters and warm summers.

Wind Cave National Park and the rest of the southern Black Hills are much warmer and drier than the northern hills. Some residents call the area south the Dakota's banana belt. The banana belt exits because of two weather patterns--one that begins west of the Rocky Mountains and the other, north of the Black Hills. One of the weather patterns occurs when warm, moist air traveling east from the Pacific Ocean reaches the Rocky Mountains. The mountains force the air to rise, causing it to cool. When the air cools, the water vapor in the clouds condenses and falls as rain or snow. Once the air reaches the other side of the mountain, it is considerably drier. The dry air begins to descend, becoming warmer again. The warm winds created by the descending air masses are called Chinook winds. This warm, dry air continues east bringing warmer and drier weather to the southern Black Hills.

At the same time the Chinook winds are arriving from the west, there are also arctic air masses moving south from Canada. When the frigid air masses encounter the summits of the northern Black Hills, they are directed around the western and eastern flanks. Because Wind Cave National Park is located on the southern extremity of the hills, much of the cold air is funneled downward and away from the park and the southern hills.

Seasonal Weather

Spring ~ Apr - May

Occasional high winds can make for extra chilly weather. Consistent spring-like weather generally occurs in late April, but some snow is possible. May usually brings the most precipitation, about 3 inches.

Summer ~ Jun - Aug

Like May, June can be a rainy month. Severe thunderstorms are common in June and July and occasional in August.

Fall ~ Sep - Oct

Days are warm and nights comfortably cool. Snow is common in late fall.

Winter ~ Nov - Mar

Snowfall averages 30 inches annually. January is usually the coldest month, but March often brings the most snow.

Wind Cave National Park Monthly Weather Summary

January Is the coldest month. The average high and low are 37.4° F and 10.7° F. Temperatures below zero are common. The average snowfall is 6.6 inches.	February Brings an average of 5.9 inches of snow. The average high is 41.8° F and the average low is 14.5° F.
March Brings the warmest winter temperatures, but the most snow. The average high & low are 49.7° F and 21.4° F. Snowfall averages 7.4 inches.	April Is a variable time. There is warm weather mixed with cold and snowy days. Precipitation increases with an average of 1.78 inches. The average high and low are 61° F and 32° F.
May Can be a wetter month with an average of 2.95 inches of rain. Temperatures are often pleasant. The average high and low are 70.7° F and 41.7° F.	June Is a great month to observe dramatic thunderstorms. June is slightly wetter than May with an average precipitation of 3.05 inches. The average high is a comfortable 81° F. The average low is 51° F.
July Is the warmest month of the year with an average high of 89.3° F and average low of 57.2° F. Hail and thunderstorms are common.	August Is much like July, but drier, and there are fewer thunderstorms. The average high and low are 88.1° F and 54.9° F.
September Weather is often very pleasant with an average high of 78.4° F and an average low of 44.6° F. September is a little drier than the summer months.	October Often a mixture of warm and cold days. The average high is 65.8° F and the average low is 33.6° F. Precipitation is light. Expect some snow, especially late in the month.
November Often brings snow. The average high temperature is 49.5° F, and the average low temperature is 22.5° F.	December Is generally a dry month. Snow averages 6 inches. It is the second coldest month with an average high of 39.8° F and an average low of 14.1° F.

Rapid City, South Dakota Weather Stats

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
Avg High - °F	33.8	38.2	45.9	57.9	68.1	77.8	86.2	85.1	74.4	62.5	46.7	35.6	59.4
Avg Low - °F	10.7	15.2	22.2	32.2	42.3	51.7	58.2	56.1	45.5	34.9	22.8	12.7	33.7
Avg Temp - °F	22.3	26.7	34.1	45.1	55.2	64.8	72.2	70.6	60.0	48.7	34.8	24.2	46.6
Avg Precip (in)	6.6	7.2	8.7	9.3	11.8	12.4	9.4	7.8	6.4	5.1	5.9	6.0	96.5
Avg Snowfall (in)	1.3	2.5	2.6	2.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.4	1.7	1.8	12.6

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Wind Cave National Park Links

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by John William Uhler

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