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Best time to visit · South Dakota, United States
For the most comfortable weather in Black Hills, aim for June – September. September tops our comfort score at 96/100, with highs around 70°F (21°C) and 1.6 in (40 mm) of rain. May is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cool days.
Highs run from 30°F to 83°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 19.2 in (487 mm) of rain and snow.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 32°F0°C | 32°F0°C | 43°F6°C | 51°F11°C | 62°F17°C | 74°F24°C | 83°F29°C | 80°F27°C | 70°F21°C | 52°F11°C | 41°F5°C | 30°F-1°C |
| Avg low | 14°F-10°C | 12°F-11°C | 21°F-6°C | 27°F-3°C | 37°F3°C | 48°F9°C | 56°F13°C | 53°F12°C | 44°F6°C | 30°F-1°C | 22°F-5°C | 14°F-10°C |
| Rain/snow | 0.5 in13 mm | 0.7 in18 mm | 1.1 in27 mm | 2.1 in54 mm | 3.6 in91 mm | 2.8 in71 mm | 2.4 in61 mm | 1.9 in49 mm | 1.6 in40 mm | 1.4 in35 mm | 0.6 in14 mm | 0.6 in14 mm |
| Humidity | 74% | 72% | 65% | 63% | 63% | 59% | 54% | 54% | 55% | 64% | 65% | 73% |
| Cloud | 61% | 64% | 64% | 63% | 62% | 51% | 44% | 44% | 43% | 53% | 57% | 62% |
| Comfort | 50 | 49 | 53 | 66 | 79 | 89 | 86 | 94 | 96 | 72 | 51 | 49 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. The grid cell sits at about 1,591 m (5,220 ft), close to Black Hills's own ~1,660 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
The coldest season, with highs of 30–32°F (-1–0°C) and lows down to 12°F (-11°C). It's the driest season, with only about 1.8 in (45 mm) of rain or snow, 9% of the year's total. December – February are cold enough for snow. Comfort scores bottom out in December – February; the season averages 49/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 43°F highs in March to 62°F by May. About 6.8 in (172 mm) of rain or snow falls across these months, 35% of the year's total. March & April are cold enough for snow. May score well without being the very best (season average 66/100).
The warmest stretch of the year, with highs of 74–83°F (24–29°C). It's the wettest season, with about 7.1 in (181 mm) of rain, 37% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 48°F (9°C). June – August are among the best-scoring months (season average 90/100).
Temperatures slide from 70°F highs in September to 41°F by November. About 3.5 in (89 mm) of rain or snow falls across these months, 18% of the year's total. November is cold enough for snow. Comfort peaks here: September ranks with the year's best, and the season averages 73/100.
By comfort score: 5 Great, 2 Good and 5 Fair. Great months: May – September. Tap a month for its own guide.
For the most comfortable weather in Black Hills, aim for June – September. September tops our comfort score at 96/100, with highs around 70°F (21°C) and 1.6 in (40 mm) of rain. May is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cool days.
May is the wettest month, averaging about 3.6 in (91 mm) of rain. January is the driest, with about 0.5 in (13 mm). The yearly total is around 19.2 in (487 mm).
February is the coldest, with average lows of 12°F (-11°C) and highs of 32°F (0°C). The warmest is July, with average highs of 83°F (29°C).
Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 56%, and highs peak around 83°F (29°C), so heat matters more than mugginess.
On average, yes: lows fall below 32°F (0°C) in October – April, bottoming out around 12°F (-11°C) in February.
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