Weather

tall storm clouds building in the distance over a green prairie with rolling hills, a charred dead tree stands in the foreground
Severe thunderstorms are common in the hot summer months and may arise suddenly.

NPS Photo

 
 

Island in the Sea of Grass

The Black Hills are sometimes described as an island rising within a sea of grass. This sudden rise in elevation and the resulting slopes and exposures produce a much different climate than the surrounding plains. Wind Cave National Park lies on the southern tip of the "island" and, like the rest of the southern hills, has weather patterns that are greatly influenced by the Rocky Mountains to the west and the higher peaks of the northern Black Hills. Generally, the climate is semi-arid with mild winters and warm summers.

Wind Cave National Park and the rest of the southern Black Hills are much warmer and drier than the northern hills. Some residents call the area South Dakota’s “banana belt.” The banana belt exists because of two weather patterns. The first weather pattern occurs when warm, moist air traveling east from the Pacific Ocean reaches the Rocky Mountains. The mountains force the air to rise, causing it to cool. When the air cools, the water vapor in the clouds condenses and falls as rain or snow. Once the air reaches the other side of the mountains, it is considerably drier. The dry air begins to descend, and becomes warmer again. The warm winds created by the descending air masses are called Chinook winds. This warm, dry air continues east and brings warmer and drier weather to the southern Black Hills.

Another weather pattern occurs when arctic air masses move south from Canada. When the frigid air masses encounter the summits of the northern Black Hills, they are deflected around the western and eastern slopes. Because Wind Cave National Park is located on the southern extremity of the hills, much of the cold air is funneled downward and away from the park and the southern hills.

 

Seasonal Weather

Wind Cave National Park and the southern Black Hills are generally warmer and drier than the northern hills. Winter snowfall averages 30 inches annually. Spring and fall days vary from sunny and warm to cool, rainy, and windy. Summer brings warm daytime temperatures with cool evenings. Severe thunderstorms are common in June and July and can produce large hail and severe lightning. Slow moving storms can dump large amounts of rain over a small area, leading to flash flooding. Be cautious when camping near a creek bed even if it is dry. Move uphill if flooding starts. Be sure to check the local forecast and current road conditions before heading out.

 

Wind Cave Weather Averages

High temperature: 37° F
Low temperature: 11° F
Precipitation: 0.4 in
Snowfall: 6.6 in
High temperature: 42° F
Low temperature: 15° F
Precipitation: 0.6 in
Snowfall: 5.9 in
High temperature: 50° F
Low temperature: 21° F
Precipitation: 0.9 in
Snowfall: 7.4 in
High temperature: 61° F
Low temperature: 32° F
Precipitation: 1.8 in
High temperature: 71° F
Low temperature: 42° F
Precipitation: 2.9 in
High temperature: 81° F
Low temperature: 51° F
Precipitation: 3.05 in
High temperature: 89° F
Low temperature: 57° F
Precipitation: 2.3 in
High temperature: 88° F
Low temperature: 55° F
Precipitation: 1.8 in
High temperature: 78° F
Low temperature: 45° F
Precipitation: 1.2 in
High temperature: 66° F
Low temperature: 34° F
Precipitation: 1 in
High temperature: 50° F
Low temperature: 23° F
Precipitation: 0.5 in
High temperature: 40° F
Low temperature: 14° F
Precipitation: 0.5 in
Snowfall: 6 in

Last updated: March 18, 2024

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

26611 US Highway 385
Hot Springs, SD 57747

Phone:

605 745-4600

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