|
The new year started off chilly in January, with temperatures around 4 degrees below average across the area. The weather completely turned around in February, with readings around 8 degrees above average. The rest of the spring and through the summer, temperatures remained right around average. September through December came in at 6 to 7 degrees above average each month, with the exception of November, which was right around average. For the whole year, temperatures were around 2.5 degrees above average across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. Precipitation across the entire region was only around 80% of average for the year. It was a roller coaster ride for 2024, with more below average months than near average or above average months. Only April and August were above average, with February, May and November close to average. Far north central South Dakota was the only area that received close to average precipitation for the year, with Lemmon receiving 95% of average precipitation. All of the snowy months were below average, with the yearly snowfall totals only around 60% of average across the entire area. The highest annual precipitation total for the area was observed at Lead, where 23.63 inches of precipitation fell (around 75% of normal). Spearfish was a close 2nd, with 21.44 inches of precipitation. For locations across the plains, Winner came in with 19.92 inches of precipitation. Camp Crook was the driest location, with 8.87 inches (around 56% of normal). The highest annual snowfall total was at Lead, SD, where 80.1 inches fell. The highest Plains location for snowfall was Gillette, WY with 35.3 inches of snow. Bison had the least amount of snow, with only 15.8 inches for the calendar year. |
| Station | High | Date(s) | Low | Date(s) |
| Buffalo | 110°F | July 25th | -31°F | January 13th |
| Cottonwood (2 mi E) | 107°F | July 25th | -23°F | January 14th-15th |
| Custer | 93°F | July 25th | -29°F | January 14th |
| Faith | 105°F | July 25th | -27°F | January 13th |
| Gillette (4 mi SE) | 102°F | July 25th | -35°F | January 13th |
| Lead | 101°F | July 25th | -37°F | January 13th |
| Pine Ridge | 105°F | July 25th | -35°F | January 13th-14th |
| Philip | 108°F | July 25th | -23°F | January 13th |
| Rapid City (Downtown) | 105°F | July 25th | -23°F | January 13th |
| Rapid City Regional Airport | 107°F | July 25th | -23°F | January 13th |
| Winner | 102°F | July 26th & August 3rd | -24°F | January 14th-15th |
| Station | Rainfall | Date | Snowfall | Date |
| Buffalo* | 1.22" | May 23rd | N/A | N/A |
| Cottonwood (2 mi E) | 0.74" | June 16th | 6.0" | April 1st |
| Custer | 1.16" | April 6th | 6.0" | March 31st |
| Faith* | 1.52" | August 26th | N/A | N/A |
| Gillette (4 mi SE) | 2.39" | May 6th | 12.0" | April 7th |
| Lead | 2.85" | August 20th | 10.0" | April 7th |
| Pine Ridge* | 0.61" | July 1st | N/A | N/A |
| Philip* | 0.98" | April 15th | N/A | N/A |
| Rapid City (Downtown) | 1.60" | April 6th | 4.8" | March 31st |
| Rapid City Regional Airport* | 1.23" | April 5th | N/A | N/A |
| Winner | 2.80" | April 17th | 4.0" | March 25th |
*Data are from an automated weather station, where snowfall amounts are not available.
|
As noted above, 2024 was an anomalously warm and dry year. In fact, numerous locations achieved top ten warmest, driest, or least snowy years, and several monthly temperature and precipitation records were broken. The tables below show each 2024 annual top ten and monthly record for our climate stations across northeastern WY and western SD. |
Temperatures |
|||||
| Station | Records Began | 2024 Ranking | Value | Record Value | Year |
| Camp Crook | 1893 | 4th Warmest | 48.5°F | 51.6°F | 2006 |
| Devils Tower | 1959 | 4th Warmest | 46.7°F | 48.3°F | 1981 |
| Dupree | 1922 | 4th Warmest | 50.0°F | 50.7°F | 2016 |
| Gillette (4 mi SE) | 1902 | 3rd Warmest | 49.3°F | 49.9°F | 2012 |
| Interior (3 mi NE) | 1949 | 2nd Warmest | 54.6°F | 54.7°F | 2012 |
| Lead | 1909 | 3rd Warmest | 47.8°F | 48.8°F | 2015 |
| Lemmon | 1909 | 5th Warmest | 48.2°F | 50.6°F | 2016 |
| Maurine (12 mi SW) | 1975 | 6th Warmest | 48.1°F | 49.1°F | 1981 |
| Milesville (5 mi NE) | 1911 | 7th Warmest | 49.7°F | 51.4°F | 2012 |
| Mission (14 mi S) | 1951 | 6th Warmest | 49.2°F | 50.5°F | 2012 |
| Mt. Rushmore | 1962 | 7th Warmest | 48.0°F | 49.3°F | 2012 |
| Newcastle | 1906 | 2nd Warmest | 50.7°F | 50.8°F | 2012 |
| Newell | 1920 | 3rd Warmest | 49.2°F | 49.5°F | 2021 |
| Rapid City (Downtown) | 1888 | 2nd Warmest | 51.4°F | 51.9°F | 2012 |
| Rapid City Regional Airport | 1942 | Warmest | 50.4°F | 50.4°F | 2012 |
Precipitation |
|||||
| Station | Records Began | 2024 Ranking | Value | Record Value | Year |
| Camp Crook | 1893 | 8th Driest | 8.87" | 5.29" | 1980 |
Snowfall (2023-24 Season) |
|||||
| Station | Records Began | 2024 Ranking | Value | Record Value | Year |
| Bison | 1916 | 7th Lowest | 18.0" | 8.0" | 1982-83 |
| Devils Tower | 1959 | 2nd Lowest | 20.2" | 17.1" | 1991-92 |
| Mt. Rushmore | 1962 | 4th Lowest | 29.3" | 23.5" | 1980-81 |
| Newcastle | 1906 | 9th Lowest | 20.7" | 7.0" | 1953-54 |
| Pactola Dam | 1955 | 9th Lowest | 32.0" | 25.0" | 1973-74 |
Temperatures |
|||||
| Station | Records Began | 2024 Record | Value | Previous Record | Year |
| Bison | 1916 | Warmest September | 70.1°F | 68.3°F | 1998 |
| Bison | 1916 | Warmest October | 54.1°F | 53.0°F | 1938 |
| Camp Crook | 1893 | Warmest September | 69.0°F | 67.4°F | 1897 |
| Camp Crook | 1893 | Warmest October | 53.9°F | 52.0°F | 1953 |
| Cottonwood (2 mi E) | 1909 | Warmest September | 69.3°F | 68.4°F | 1931 |
| Devils Tower | 1959 | Warmest September | 65.2°F | 64.1°F | 1990 |
| Devils Tower | 1959 | Warmest December | 29.9°F | 29.9°F | 1980 |
| Dupree | 1922 | Warmest September | 71.3°F | 70.6°F | 2022 |
| Gillette (4 mi SE) | 1902 | Warmest September | 67.7°F | 66.5°F | 1938 |
| Gillette (4 mi SE) | 1902 | Warmest December | 33.9°F | 33.7°F | 1939 |
| Hot Springs | 1894 | Warmest September | 69.9°F | 68.5°F | 1940 |
| Interior (3 mi NE) | 1949 | Warmest September | 75.9°F | 72.9°F | 1998 |
| Lead | 1909 | Warmest September | 65.4°F | 63.6°F | 1948 |
| Lemmon | 1909 | Warmest September | 69.3°F | 69.0°F | 2015 |
| Maurine (12 mi SW) | 1975 | Warmest September | 68.4°F | 67.4°F | 1998 |
| Maurine (12 mi SW) | 1975 | Warmest October | 52.5°F | 51.9°F | 2003 |
| Milesville (5 mi NE) | 1911 | Warmest September | 70.4°F | 69.6°F | 1998 |
| Milesville (5 mi NE) | 1911 | Warmest October | 55.5°F | 54.8°F | 1953 |
| Mission (14 mi S) | 1951 | Warmest September | 70.4°F | 69.2°F | 1998 |
| Mt. Rushmore | 1962 | Warmest September | 67.1°F | 66.7°F | 1979 |
| Newcastle | 1906 | Warmest September | 70.5°F | 68.0°F | 1998 |
| Newell | 1920 | Warmest September | 68.9°F | 67.7°F | 1998 |
| Pactola Dam | 1955 | Warmest September | 60.1°F | 59.7°F | 1963 |
| Rapid City (Downtown) | 1888 | Warmest September | 71.3°F | 68.8°F | 1897 |
| Rapid City Regional Airport | 1942 | Warmest September | 70.0°F | 67.1°F | 1952 |
| Wood | 1913 | Warmest September | 71.4°F | 70.4°F | 1931 |
Precipitation |
|||||
|
Station
|
Records Began
|
2024 Record
|
Value
|
Previous Record
|
Year
|
|
Cottonwood (2 mi E)
|
1909
|
Driest October
|
0.00"
|
0.00" (tied)
|
1952
|
|
Winner
|
1910
|
Driest October
|
0.00"
|
0.00" (tied)
|
1964, 1952, and 1933
|
|
Wood
|
1913
|
Driest September
|
0.01"
|
0.06"
|
1953 and 1933
|
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
UNR RSS Feed