Frost Dates for Rapid City Rgnl AP, SD

Elevation: 963 m

Frost Dates

Last Spring Frost (50%) A 50% chance that the last spring frost has already passed by this date. Most gardeners use this as their primary planting guide. May 12
First Fall Frost (50%) A 50% chance that the first fall frost has occurred by this date. Plan to harvest or protect tender plants before this date. October 1

30% Probability

Only a 30% chance of frost remaining by this date. Use these dates for a safer planting window, especially for tender plants sensitive to cold.
Last Spring Frost May 18
First Fall Frost September 25

Hard Freeze (28°F)

Last Spring Hard Freeze May 2
First Fall Hard Freeze October 9
44.04°N, 103.05°W © OpenStreetMap

Growing Season

142 Days May 12 to October 1

USDA Hardiness Zone

Hardiness zones indicate which perennial plants can survive winter in your area. For annual vegetables, frost dates and growing season length matter more than hardiness zone.
Zone 5a

Avg. annual minimum: −20 to −15°F

Learn more

Köppen Climate

The Köppen climate classification system categorizes climates based on temperature and precipitation patterns.
BSk Cold Semi-Arid (Steppe)

Cool to cold with low rainfall and wide temperature swings. Common in the western Great Plains and central Asia. Short growing seasons benefit from season extension techniques.

Köppen climate map

Temperature

Avg High Avg Temp Avg Low Light Frost (32°F) Hard Frost (28°F)
Temperature table
Average monthly temperatures (°F)
Month Avg High Avg Temp Avg Low
January36°24°13°
February38°26°14°
March48°35°23°
April57°44°31°
May67°54°42°
June78°65°52°
July86°73°59°
August85°71°56°
September76°61°46°
October60°47°34°
November47°35°22°
December37°26°14°

Precipitation

Precipitation table
Average monthly precipitation (inches)
MonthPrecipitation
January1.0
February1.0
March1.8
April2.6
May3.4
June3.2
July2.8
August2.5
September2.3
October2.0
November1.3
December1.2

Sunrise / Sunset

Daylight Mountain Time (MT) Longest: 15h 18m · Shortest: 8h 42m
Sunrise and sunset table
Sunrise, sunset, and daylight on the 15th of each month (Mountain Time (MT))
Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight
January7:30 AM4:33 PM9h 03m
February6:60 AM5:14 PM10h 14m
March7:13 AM6:51 PM11h 38m
April6:16 AM7:29 PM13h 14m
May5:32 AM8:05 PM14h 34m
June5:14 AM8:31 PM15h 17m
July5:28 AM8:27 PM14h 59m
August6:01 AM7:51 PM13h 50m
September6:38 AM6:55 PM12h 17m
October7:15 AM5:60 PM10h 45m
November6:56 AM4:19 PM9h 23m
December7:27 AM4:09 PM8h 43m

Nearby Stations

Rapid City Wfo, SD May 3 - October 8 Rapid City 4nw, SD May 10 - October 5 Johnson Siding, SD May 20 - September 25 Hereford 12 Sw, SD May 8 - October 3 Pactola Dam, SD May 28 - September 18 Mt Rushmore Nmem, SD May 15 - October 1

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