Rapid City, SD weather in October
Rapid City is cool in October, with some rain and some snow: highs average 60°F and nights drop to about 34°F. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 3.4 in.
- Normal high
- 60°F
- Normal low
- 34°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.4 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 23% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:50 am / 6:34 pm | 7:28 am / 5:44 pm |
| Daylight | 11.7 h | 10.3 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 October day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am50°Fdew point 33°F
- Noon57°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ellsworth AFB (8 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 51% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 39%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F10 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 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.4 in; a dry October brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202010: average high 68°F
- Coolest October2009: average high 48°F
- Wettest October1998: 5.6 in
- Driest October1999: 0.1 in
- Highest reading96°F (October 2, 2011)
- Lowest reading-7°F (October 26, 2020)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 76°F | 60°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 46°F | 34°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 12 | 10 | 4 |
| Daylight | 12.5 h | 11.0 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by -16°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Cooler: Keystone, SD16 mi · high 55°F · 7 wet days
How Rapid City ranks in October
- Normal high318th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in South Dakota
- Wet days155th driest of 378
- Comfortable days215th most of 340
What to pack for Rapid City in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 34°F, highs near 60°F
- Layers – afternoons near 60°F but nights near 34°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.4 in of snow in a typical year
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 8; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 26. All frost dates for Rapid City.
Heating and cooling
October has 560 heating degree days and 3 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rapid City in October?
The normal high is 60°F and the normal low is 34°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -7°F (October 26, 2020).
Does it rain a lot in Rapid City in October?
About 7 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.4 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (5.6 in); the driest was in 1999 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Rapid City in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 3.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is October a good time to visit Rapid City?
October ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rapid City (59 out of 100). It has about 10 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.