Rapid City, SD

4 October 2026: 2026 so far averaged 55.3°F in Rapid City, SD, the warmest 1 January to 4 October on record, in 84 years since 1943; provisional.

Sunday 4 October 2026

High: 79°F; Warmest since 2024; 17th warmest of 85
Low: 40°F; Coldest since 2020; 40th coldest of 85

No measurable precipitation in Rapid City, SD for 6 days to Sunday 4 October 2026.

Every 4 October low in Rapid City, SD since 1942: 40°F in 2026; the lowest is 27°F, in 2018.

Normal range, 28 to 45.3°F

Every year as a table

Every 4 October high in Rapid City, SD since 1942: 79°F in 2026; the highest is 94°F, in 1963.

Year	High, °F	Low, °F
2026	79	40
2025	72	53
2024	85	43
2023	67	41
2022	66	49
2021	87	44
2020	76	32
2019	62	35
2018	47	27
2017	55	28
2016	62	36
2015	53	48
2014	67	29
2013	38	32
2012	49	32
2011	90	53
2010	84	44
2009	44	33
2008	79	51
2007	70	43
2006	51	44
2005	45	33
2004	69	33
2003	75	41
2002	56	38
2001	48	37
2000	46	37
1999	79	28
1998	43	33
1997	85	41
1996	79	44
1995	52	40
1994	52	43
1993	68	44
1992	84	45
1991	49	28
1990	85	38
1989	72	44
1988	49	33
1987	78	48
1986	66	31
1985	55	30
1984	75	50
1983	71	32
1982	63	44
1981	63	38
1980	79	43
1979	73	36
1978	62	42
1977	52	37
1976	51	31
1975	88	46
1974	55	30
1973	67	32
1972	75	37
1971	73	40
1970	86	47
1969	46	37
1968	74	29
1967	72	50
1966	60	32
1965	75	37
1964	58	37
1963	94	55
1962	73	41
1961	77	48
1960	88	45
1959	72	42
1958	71	46
1957	72	44
1956	89	46
1955	86	53
1954	45	34
1953	71	34
1952	49	35
1951	51	42
1950	61	28
1949	75	43
1948	83	50
1947	85	54
1946	56	43
1945	75	47
1944	74	44
1943	82	41
1942	60	38

The forecast

Date	High	Low
6 October	85°FRecord 94°F, 1993	52°FRecord 15°F, 2000
7 October	Record 89°F, 2003, 1975	Record 13°F, 2000

The month and the year

Every year's 1 to 4 October in Rapid City, SD, ranked by its mean temperature: October 2026 so far is the 31st warmest of 84.

Every year, ranked, as a table

Rank	Year	Mean, °F
1	1963	71.4
2	2011	69.8
3	2025	68.6
4	1957	67.5
5	1992	67.3
6	1967	65.1
7	1997	64.5
8	1956	63.9
9	1947	62.9
10	1943	62.6
11	1975	61.1
12	2023	60.9
13	2021	60.8
14	2022	60.4
15	2024	60.3
16	1984	59.9
17	1948	59.8
18	1945	59.3
19	1987	59.1
19	1970	59.1
21	1953	59
22	2008	58.8
22	1946	58.8
24	2006	58.6
24	1960	58.6
26	2007	58.5
27	2016	58.4
27	1990	58.4
29	1955	58.3
29	1949	58.3
31	2026	58
32	2010	57.8
33	1972	57.6
34	1976	57.4
35	1980	57.3
36	2005	57
36	1951	57
38	1981	56.6
39	1942	56.5
40	1965	55.9
41	1979	54.9
42	2001	54.8
43	1958	54.6
44	1993	54.5
45	1978	54.3
46	1961	54.1
47	1962	54
48	1973	53.6
49	2003	53.5
49	1964	53.5
51	1991	52.6
52	1969	52.5
53	2015	52.1
54	2012	51.5
55	1996	51.4
56	1983	51.3
57	2020	50.9
57	1952	50.9
59	1995	50.8
60	1982	50.6
61	1971	50.5
62	2018	50.3
63	1954	50.1
64	2004	49.6
65	1968	49.4
66	1994	49.3
67	1988	48.6
68	2000	48.4
69	1989	47.9
70	2013	47.8
71	1966	47.1
72	2014	46.9
72	1977	46.9
74	1959	46.3
75	1986	46.1
76	2017	46
77	1985	45.8
78	2002	44.9
79	1944	44.4
80	1998	42.9
81	2019	42.8
82	1999	41.3
83	2009	41
84	1950	36.4

Every day as a table

Daily highs and lows in Rapid City, SD, 1 to 4 October 2026, with each date's record range and its 1991 to 2020 normal range.

Day	High, °F	Low, °F	Record high	Year	Record low	Year	Normal high	Normal low
1 October 2026	62	43	94	2005	20	1985	68	41
2 October 2026	76	44	96	2011	27	2009	68	38.5
3 October 2026	75	45	96	2025	24	2009	65	38.5
4 October 2026	79	40	94	1963	27	2018	59	37

The warmest, coldest and wettest on this date

The 20 warmest 4 October highs in Rapid City, SD since 1942.
Rank	Year	High, °F
1	1963	94
2	2011	90
3	1956	89
4	1975	88
4	1960	88
6	2021	87
7	1970	86
7	1955	86
9	2024	85
9	1997	85
9	1990	85
9	1947	85
13	2010	84
13	1992	84
15	1948	83
16	1943	82
17	2026	79
17	2008	79
17	1999	79
17	1996	79

The 20 coldest 4 October lows in Rapid City, SD since 1942.
Rank	Year	Low, °F
1	2018	27
2	2017	28
2	1999	28
2	1991	28
2	1950	28
6	2014	29
6	1968	29
8	1985	30
8	1974	30
10	1986	31
10	1976	31
12	2020	32
12	2013	32
12	2012	32
12	1983	32
12	1973	32
12	1966	32
18	2009	33
18	2005	33
18	2004	33

The 20 wettest 4 October days in Rapid City, SD since 1942.
Rank	Year	Precipitation, in
1	2013	1.74
2	1998	1.67
3	2005	0.71
4	1995	0.65
5	1946	0.60
6	2025	0.57
7	2009	0.40
8	1951	0.38
9	2018	0.22
10	1969	0.19
11	1981	0.17
12	2001	0.10
12	1994	0.10
14	2022	0.09
15	2008	0.07
16	1991	0.05
17	2000	0.04
18	2015	0.02
19	2019	0.01
19	2006	0.01

Every answer in words

Sunday 4 October 2026: a high of 79°F in Rapid City, SD, the warmest 4 October since 2024, tied 17th warmest of 85 (with 2008, 1999, 1996 and 1 other year).
Sunday 4 October 2026: a low of 40°F in Rapid City, SD, the coldest 4 October night since 2020, tied 40th coldest of 85 (with 1995 and 1971).
Forecast for Tuesday 6 October 2026: a high of 85°F in Rapid City, SD, which would be the warmest 6 October since 2021, tied 3rd warmest of 85 (with 2021, 2020 and 1960) (National Weather Service forecast).
Forecast for Tuesday 6 October 2026: a low of 52°F in Rapid City, SD, which would be the warmest 6 October night since 1963, tied 2nd warmest of 85 (with 1958) (National Weather Service forecast).
Rapid City, SD on 6 October: record high 94°F (1993), record low 15°F (2000).
Rapid City, SD on 7 October: record high 89°F (2003 and 1975), record low 13°F (2000).
October 2026 so far averaged 58°F in Rapid City, SD, the warmest 1 to 4 October since 2025, 31st warmest of 84.
October 2026 so far brought 0.00 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, tying the record for the driest 1 to 4 October, set in 2024, 2021, 2010 and 19 other years, in 85 years since 1942; provisional.
Fall 2026 so far averaged 65.2°F in Rapid City, SD, the warmest 1 September to 4 October since 2025, tied 5th warmest of 85 (with 1952).
Fall 2026 so far brought 1.53 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, the wettest 1 September to 4 October since 2025, 30th wettest of 85.
2026 so far brought 11.15 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, the driest 1 January to 4 October since 2017, 15th driest of 84.
The 30 days to Sunday 4 October 2026 brought 1.48 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, the driest 30 days to 4 October since 2024, tied 62nd driest of 85 (with 1995).
The 60 days to Sunday 4 October 2026 brought 3.70 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, the driest 60 days to 4 October since 2025, 69th driest of 85.
The 90 days to Sunday 4 October 2026 brought 4.43 in of precipitation in Rapid City, SD, the driest 90 days to 4 October since 2024, 43rd driest of 84.
Rapid City, SD has had 54 days at 90°F or above in 2026 through 4 October, the most by that date since 2024, tied 7th most of 84 (with 2003 and 1989).
Rapid City, SD has had 14 days at 100°F or above in 2026 through 4 October, the most by that date since 2012, tied 3rd most of 84 (with 2012 and 2007).
Rapid City, SD has had 102 freezing nights (a low of 32°F or below) in 2026 through 4 October, the most by that date since 2024, tied 51st most of 84 (with 2024, 1983, 1982 and 1 other year).
The last freeze of spring 2026 in Rapid City, SD came on Wednesday 20 May 2026, the latest since 2022, tied 15th latest of 84 (with 2003, 1997, 1971 and 1 other year).

Nearby

Rapid City Downtown, SD 8.0 mi
Valentine, NE 150.0 mi
Scottsbluff, NE 152.5 mi
Mobridge, SD 166.2 mi
Casper, WY 188.9 mi
Pennington County, SD county average
South Dakota every city and county

All-time records

About these figures

Daily records for Rapid City, SD run from 1942 to 4 October 2026, with 6 days missing; current station RAPID CITY REGIONAL AP.

Our calculation from NOAA records for Rapid City, SD, 1942 to 2026. Preliminary until NOAA's final data.