Rapid City, SD weather in July
In July, Rapid City sees highs around 86°F and lows around 59°F: warm, with some rain. There are about 10 days with rain. It is one of the warmest months in Rapid City.
- Normal high
- 86°F
- Normal low
- 59°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 1
- dew point 65°F+
How July changes from start to finish
| July 1 | July 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 83°F | 88°F |
| Normal low | 56°F | 60°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:13 am / 8:39 pm | 5:39 am / 8:18 pm |
| Daylight | 15.4 h | 14.7 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 July day
- 6 am65°Fdew point 56°F
- 9 am76°Fdew point 56°F
- Noon82°Fdew point 55°F
- 3 pm84°Fdew point 54°F
- 6 pm80°Fdew point 55°F
- 9 pm71°Fdew point 56°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ellsworth AFB (8 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 58% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 29%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F6 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more12 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more1 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per July, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in July
Normal precipitation is 2.3 in; a dry July brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more.
How July varies from year to year
- Warmest July, 1991-20202007: average high 95°F
- Coolest July1992: average high 76°F
- Wettest July2019: 6.4 in
- Driest July2003: 0.5 in
- Highest reading111°F (July 15, 2006)
- Lowest reading43°F (July 27, 2005)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
July compared with June and August
| June | July | August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 78°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Normal low | 52°F | 59°F | 56°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 10 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 15 | 6 | 6 |
| Daylight | 15.4 h | 15.1 h | 14.0 h |
Highs change by +8°F from June and -1°F into August.
Nearby alternatives in July
- Drier: Casper, WY176 mi · high 89°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Keystone, SD16 mi · high 79°F · 12 wet days
How Rapid City ranks in July
- Normal high206th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days216th driest of 378
- Comfortable days103rd most of 340
What to pack for Rapid City in July
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 86°F
- Layers – afternoons near 86°F but nights near 59°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 10 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 15.1 hours of daylight and highs near 86°F
Heating and cooling
July has 13 heating degree days and 244 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 3% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Rapid City in July?
The normal high is 86°F and the normal low is 59°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest July reading was 111°F (July 15, 2006).
Does it rain a lot in Rapid City in July?
About 10 days in July have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.3 in. The wettest July in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (6.4 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.5 in).
Is July a good time to visit Rapid City?
July ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rapid City (56 out of 100). It has about 6 comfortable days and about 12 days at 90°F or hotter. 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.