Rapid City, SD weather in March
In March, Rapid City sees highs around 48°F and lows around 23°F: chilly and snowy. Expect about 7 wet days. Snowfall averages about 10.4 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 0.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.4 in
- snow on the ground 7 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 42°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 21% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:29 am / 5:40 pm | 6:35 am / 7:18 pm |
| Daylight | 11.2 h | 12.7 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 March day
- 6 am29°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ellsworth AFB (8 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 43% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more7 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 0.9 in; a dry March brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 10.4 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202012: average high 65°F
- Coolest March2002: average high 33°F
- Wettest March2009: 2.1 in
- Driest March2012: 0.05 in
- Highest reading84°F (March 15, 2015)
- Lowest reading-21°F (March 8, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
March compared with February and April
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 48°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 23°F | 31°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Daylight | 10.5 h | 11.9 h | 13.5 h |
Highs change by +10°F from February and +9°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Cooler: Bismarck, ND223 mi · high 41°F · 8 wet days
How Rapid City ranks in March
- Normal high285th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days103rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days220th most of 339
What to pack for Rapid City in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 48°F
- Layers – afternoons near 48°F but nights near 23°F
- Waterproof boots – about 10.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 918 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rapid City in March?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -21°F (March 8, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Rapid City in March?
About 7 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.9 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 2009 (2.1 in); the driest was in 2012 (0.05 in).
Does it snow in Rapid City in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 10.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 7 days.
Is March a good time to visit Rapid City?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rapid City (51 out of 100). It has about 5 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.