Rapid City weather (Sioux Falls, Brookings, Yankton: power lines, find a job, tornado)

[Marcar12]

I have done some research concerning Rapid City's weather on various websites, but I want to hear about a few things from the locals.

I have heard rumors that it is always windy in Rapid City. Is this true?

Are there ever tornadoes in Rapid City?

I don't mind snow (in fact, I love it), but I HATE ice storms. Please tell me... does Rapid City EVER have ice storms?

Thank you!

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Marcar12

I have done some research concerning Rapid City's weather on various websites, but I want to hear about a few things from the locals.

I have heard rumors that it is always windy in Rapid City. Is this true?

Are there ever tornadoes in Rapid City?

I don't mind snow (in fact, I love it), but I HATE ice storms. Please tell me... does Rapid City EVER have ice storms?

Thank you!

NO, it is not "always windy" in Rapid City, nor the surrounding area's. Yes, East of Rapid City and North of Rapid City can get a little more wind then the rest of the hills, but that is natural because storms and weather come from the North/West. The hills naturally form a barrier and low lying storms tend to lean up against the hills and track on down from Spearfish-Belle area and move South East. About Rapid City is where they finally break loose from the hills and start East, more then South. But, by no means is Rapid City windy.

Yes. Rapid City experiences Tornadoes. Because it is so far North and because the hills tend to keep the climate cooler during Hot summer days, the tornadoes are usually smaller then what you see and read about out on the prairie. F0, F1, and possibly a very rare F2 could hit. They are not common, but a couple times a summer they do threaten.

I lived in the Black Hills, (18 miles West of Rapid City) for 20+ years. I've never seen an ice storm there. Some people will try and say there are, but I've also lived in Oregon, and Washington, and Texas where true ice storms hit. Rapid City and the hills will get snow storms, but I've never seen the conditions for an ice storm where it puts an inch of ice on everything and power lines come down, roofs colaps, etc...

[uncleharley]

I have not lived in the Black Hills for twenty years yet, but I have to concur with ElkHunter. My personal experiance with tornados out here was on I-90 about 75 miles east of Rapid. I did see a funnel cloud develop to the north and it headed for the ground. It dispersed either before it hit the ground or shortly thereafter. What I am trying to say is Yes, you can get them, but they don't amount to much.
ICE; Anytime you are driving in hilly or mountainous country and it is raining and the temp is near freezing, keep an eye on the tree tops on the ridges. When they begin to turn grey, that means ice is forming up there. You will be driving on ice after you gain a few hundred more feet in elevation.

Today the weather is just ordinarily beautiful.

uh

[stockwiz]

here's a wind map that will give a general idea. Rapid city itself is not that bad.

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/i...sd_50m_800.jpg

weatherwise, it has pretty much the best climate in the state. Mild spurts in the winter, and when it does get hot in the summer, you can just go into the hills. Much, much warmer then the east side of the state, and where I'm at, pretty much the coldest part of the state in the winter, spring, and fall. If you can find a job there, I would pick rapid over sioux falls. Although South of Sioux Falls isn't that bad, around Yankton and such.

[Marcar12]

Thank you for your insights!
I have lived in the midwest for the past 3 years, and I can't stand the weather. Before living here, I lived in Colorado and Utah (weather that I loved).
I never realized that a location's weather would have so much impact on my wanting to live there, but I have realized that I can't spend much longer in the midwest. The frequent tornado watches/warnings in the spring, ice-storms and frigid temps in the winter, and the excessive heat and humidity in the summer all just do me in.
It sounds like Rapid City might be a feasible option for us! RC doesn't just have decent weather, but it's fairly close to our families and is a really nice size (as far as my hubby and I are concerned.)
Thanks again for your help!

[stockwiz]

I love the severe weather, I just hate the neverending cold that is somewhat unique to brookings and watertown, SD. It's extremely cold here, all winter long. Even compared to Sioux Falls. But they are both much colder then Rapid city. Brookings has more in common with North Dakota and northern MN in climate, whereas Yankton and areas south of Sioux Falls are more typical of southern Wisconsin, and there is a difference. Rapid city is more like Denver, but not as warm.. chinook winds cause winter temperature moderation.

[NDtrucker]

The land of infinite variety is right. There can also be hail storms in the RC/Black Hills area. Looks like they had an experience with a damaging hail storm in the Deadwood area last year.

Deadwood/Lead Hail Storm 08/03/10

[kbat]

RC can be a windy place. The wind certainly isn't constant, but it is a frequent visitor. RC isn't nearly as windy as it is out on the prairie, since it is partially sheltered by the Black Hills.

Tornadoes do happen in western SD, but they aren't very common.

We did have a couple of instances of freezing rain last winter. I'm not sure that they would be considered bona fide ice storms, but they did make everything slicker than snot on a greased doorknob for a day. Again though, not common. It gets cold but it doesn't usually stay nasty for long. Winter temps alternate between fiercely cold and relatively pleasant. The snow usually has a chance to melt before the next snow comes along.

We do get hail in the summer. Sometimes big hail. Just depends on where you are and whether you happen to be lucky. I was not lucky this summer. Got $2,700 worth of hail damage to my car driving into a severe thunderstorm east of Box Elder.

Humidity is very low in western SD, which is semi-arid.

And as anyone here can tell you... if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. SD is a great place for weather weenies. You get to see a little bit of everything.

[Marcar12]

Originally Posted by kbat

And as anyone here can tell you... if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. SD is a great place for weather weenies. You get to see a little bit of everything.

That's what everyone says in Colorado, too. Which is something I loved about the weather there

Hail I don't mind. It is the freezing rain that results in a blanket of ice over EVERYTHING (aka- ice storms) that I hate. You say that those have happened recently in Rapid City?? Hmmm... not good news. During my time in the midwest, we have gotten about 3 of those per year. My husband was in a bad accident that totaled his vehicle because of an ice storm we had last year.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Marcar12

That's what everyone says in Colorado, too. Which is something I loved about the weather there

Hail I don't mind. It is the freezing rain that results in a blanket of ice over EVERYTHING (aka- ice storms) that I hate. You say that those have happened recently in Rapid City?? Hmmm... not good news. During my time in the midwest, we have gotten about 3 of those per year. My husband was in a bad accident that totaled his vehicle because of an ice storm we had last year.

You have to understand, the Black Hills do not get traditional ice storms. I've lived places that had ice storms where big trees crack and branches and limbs are all over the ground. Heavy with ice the power lines snap and power is out. Ice covers everything an inch or more thick. I've never seen that in my 57 years of the Black Hills.

I have seen it rain and then turn to snow and get cold. Hence you have a sheet of ice to deal with but it's only on shaded corners in the hills. A little less gas pedal and your fine. But I have not seen traditional heavy ice storms.