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[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]Hello out there. I've read through quite a few threads on this site and have done quite a bit of research on the Black Hills and the Rapid City area.
I've been to the Black Hills and Rapid City every year for the past 10 years, always visit between October and the end of December. I love the area, it's beautiful!
I would like to hear from some folks that have or still live in the Rapid City or Black Hills area and have experienced the follow things as I am thinking of moving out there. I'm a bit nervous because I come from Connecticut and I've heard some frightening stories related to the weather/climate. I'm interested in South Rapid, West Rapid, the Route 44/Sheridan Lake Road area.
What's a typical winter like pertaining to snow and the extreme cold? What's the wind like in the winter and the other seasons? I read there are lightning storms with hail, how often and how severe are they? I would really appreciate your perspective on these questions. I want to get a feel for what's typical so if and when I move I have a clear understanding of what I am getting into. Thanks in advance.
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If you can live through a New England winter, you can manage a winter in the Hills with no problems! Yes, we have blowing snow, but we don't get near what the northeast gets, quantity-wise - at least, not anymore! I spent twelve years each in the Rapid City area and Upstate NY. You will only notice a difference when the wind blows, because our snow is lighter and tends to blow around a lot. They say it's colder, but without the humidity, honestly, it doesn't *feel* colder to me. It is windy here, but not all the time every day. It does cut us a break every once in a while - more so as you get deeper into the hills.
We have thunder storms with hail and lightning. You get hurricane backlash - honestly, I think New England storms are much worse, because it tends to rain for DAYS when it rains...here, the summer standard is a gully washer about three times a week in the spring and early summer. It generally blows through in 2-3 hours, max. Usually less. When we get waves of storms is the worst - then, you tend to get tornados, too. But those tend to be worse the farther away from the hills you are. I have been back in the area a little over a year now, and I can't recall a time it actually rained for 24 hours straight - at least not yet. And the tornados tend to start farther east than where we are in Belle - I think you have to get off the hills a bit, by about 40-50 miles or so for tornados to be a regular threat (not saying we don't get them, but not with regularity).
Rapid City tends to lie in what they call the Banana Belt of the Black Hills. In other words, it doesn't get the extremes that the rest of the area is prone to. Now, today, it's about 100 degrees all over the area, but I feel much more comfortable here in that temperature than I would on the East Coast!
Every place has its own climate quirks. I think if you can manage New England, then South Dakota will be a piece of cake!
If you sheltered you are really good. East of Rapid like the airport or airbase the wind can be bad. At work we have cots and a conference room just in case we get stranded. Rapid generally misses most winter blizzards, except for the spring storms when it really dumps on us.
Summers might get warm but the humidity is manageable. My house doesn't have A/C. But I closed all the windows and pulled the shades and it is nice and cool. Most nights I sleep with the windows open.
Summers might get warm but the humidity is manageable. My house doesn't have A/C. But I closed all the windows and pulled the shades and it is nice and cool. Most nights I sleep with the windows open.
Oh wow....I can remember when my wife and I lived there for the six weeks we did last summer. Our house didn't have AC either and it was no problem. In fact, at night it almost got too cool! Oh I miss that so much compared to the humidity here in Omaha. Someday we'll be back...COUNT ON IT!!
Thanks no8fann, you really answered the questions and I really appreciate it! You are correct about the rain back here in the east, it hangs around for days. Then there is the drizzle, the clouds and the overcast days, many times we wonder if there is a sun! Thanks again for the detailed information.
Thanks no8fann, you really answered the questions and I really appreciate it! You are correct about the rain back here in the east, it hangs around for days. Then there is the drizzle, the clouds and the overcast days, many times we wonder if there is a sun! Thanks again for the detailed information.
No problem! Today was pretty much text book - t-storms last night, a little this morning, some rain for a few hours, stopped by noon, and now the sun is out! We may get another t-storm later, but I am hoping for a good, soaking rain instead - we don't need anymore lightning right now!
The winter temps in Rapid City are much warmer than many other points in South Dakota.
Chinook winds come as far east as the Black Hills and causes this.
Our local ag radio station in rural central Minnesota, while giving regional temps, calls Rapid City the " banana belt" of the mmidwest because Many times Rapid City's daytime winter high is 15-20 degrees warmer than other reporting stations.
When I lived in the Black Hills, it seemed that when winter storms rolled across Wyoming dumping cold and snow, they'd hit the Black Hills and get disrupted. The hills would get some snow, but not as much as Eastern Wyoming got. The storm would regroup and start dumping about New Underwood. Newcastle would get 8-10 inches, Rapid City 2-3 inches, and New Underwood would get 8-10 with lots of wind.
We lived 18 miles West of Rapid City and I don't remember ever seeing a drift on our property. Snow would come straight down.
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