Rapid City, SD weather in April
April in Rapid City: cool and snowy. Highs 57°F, lows 31°F, rain or snow on about 11 days and about 10.0 in of snow. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 31°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.0 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 53°F | 61°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 31% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:33 am / 7:19 pm | 5:45 am / 7:54 pm |
| Daylight | 12.8 h | 14.2 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 am37°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm54°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ellsworth AFB (8 mi away); average wind 12 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°F8 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 snow11 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below16 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry April brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202012: average high 65°F
- Coolest April2013: average high 48°F
- Wettest April1997: 4.8 in
- Driest April1998: 0.3 in
- Highest reading92°F (April 30, 1992)
- Lowest reading-1°F (April 3, 2020)
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 | 48°F | 57°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 31°F | 42°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 11 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 8 | 15 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.5 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +9°F from March and +10°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Drier: Medora, ND196 mi · high 56°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Keystone, SD16 mi · high 51°F · 10 wet days
How Rapid City ranks in April
- Normal high316th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days245th driest of 378
- Comfortable days235th most of 340
What to pack for Rapid City in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 31°F, highs near 57°F
- Layers – afternoons near 57°F but nights near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 10.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 16 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
April has 634 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rapid City in April?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 31°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was -1°F (April 3, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Rapid City in April?
About 11 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 1997 (4.8 in); the driest was in 1998 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Rapid City in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 10.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is April a good time to visit Rapid City?
April ranks 4th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rapid City (60 out of 100). It has about 8 comfortable days. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Rapid City Rgnl Airport (USW00024090), 9.2 mi ESE of the city center, 3,160 ft (83 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Rapid City WFO (USC00396948), 1.1 mi ESE of the city center, 3,379 ft (136 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Ellsworth AFB (USW00024006), 8.1 mi NE of the city center, 3,215 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Rapid City Regional Airport (726620-24090), 9.1 mi ESE of the city center, 3,162 ft (81 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.