South Dakota Weather Forecast
South Dakota weather: 62°F, clear. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Climate in South Dakota month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 11° | 0,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 39° | 19° | 0,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 51° | 28° | 0,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 58° | 38° | 2,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 70° | 50° | 3,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 80° | 61° | 3,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 89° | 68° | 1,9 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 84° | 65° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 80° | 60° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 64° | 45° | 1,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 47° | 31° | 0,7 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 38° | 21° | 1,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit South Dakota
Go in June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Recent extremes in South Dakota
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How South Dakota compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against South Dakota.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 170 mi | 45°F | 37°F cooler | 23 in |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 237 mi | 46°F | 36°F cooler | 16 in |
| Nebraska | 308 mi | 55°F | +37°F warmer | 29 in |
| Omaha | 310 mi | 54°F | +36°F warmer | 29 in |
| Itasca State Park | 317 mi | 43°F | 40°F cooler | 27 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
See the South Dakota forecast by time range
South Dakota weather - more answers
Explore South Dakota
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is South Dakota?
South Dakota is a state in United States. Its coordinates are 44.3683, -100.351. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in South Dakota right now?
It is currently 62°F (17°C) with clear. Humidity is 86% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit South Dakota?
June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in South Dakota, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is South Dakota in?
South Dakota observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 4:33 PM.
How many people live in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a population of approximately 920.000.
What are the top things to do in South Dakota?
Popular options include Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
What places are in South Dakota?
South Dakota covers 4 places in this atlas, including Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (us-states) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 22, 2026 at 4:33 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
