Keystone, SD weather in April
Keystone is chilly and snowy in April: highs average 51°F and nights drop to about 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 12.8 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.8 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:34 am / 7:20 pm | 5:46 am / 7:55 pm |
| Daylight | 12.8 h | 14.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am33°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon47°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm47°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm44°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm37°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Custer Co Airport (15 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 35% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 54%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry April brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.8 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202012: average high 58°F
- Coolest April2013: average high 44°F
- Wettest April2000: 4.4 in
- Driest April1998: 0.9 in
- Highest reading81°F (April 25, 2012)
- Lowest reading-4°F (April 14, 1997)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 51°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 26°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 10 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.5 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +7°F from March and +9°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Rapid City, SD16 mi · high 57°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Medora, ND209 mi · high 56°F · 7 wet days
How Keystone ranks in April
- Normal high359th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days241st driest of 378
- Comfortable days300th most of 340
What to pack for Keystone in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 51°F
- Layers – afternoons near 51°F but nights near 26°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 12.8 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
April has 801 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Keystone in April?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was -4°F (most recently on April 14, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Keystone in April?
About 10 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (4.4 in); the driest was in 1998 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Keystone in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 12.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is April a good time to visit Keystone?
April ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Keystone (53 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Pactola Dam (USC00396427), 12 mi NNW of the city center, 4,720 ft (385 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Custer Co Airport (USW00094032), 15 mi SW of the city center, 5,545 ft (1,210 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Ellsworth AFB (USW00024006), 24 mi NE of the city center, 3,215 ft (1,120 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rapid City Regional Airport (726620-24090), 21 mi ENE of the city center, 3,162 ft (1,173 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.