A series of cold fronts from North Pacific storms will bring periods of gusty winds, low elevation rainfall, and high elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest this weekend into next week. Heavy to excessive rainfall may produce areas of flooding over southern Texas this weekend. Read More >
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Rapid City has a long and rich history of serving the people of South Dakota. So does the NWS.
Photo Date: September 4, 2026
Provide weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.
Our mission is accomplished by providing warnings and forecasts of hazardous weather, including thunderstorms, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter weather, tsunamis, and climate events. The NWS is the sole United States OFFICIAL voice for issuing warnings during life-threatening weather situations.
A Weather-Ready Nation: Society is prepared for and responds to weather, water, and climate-dependent events.
Every office in the National Weather Service has a County Warning Area (CWA). Our CWA is highlighted below.
Here is a depiction of all of the NWS forecast office CWAs.
The United States Army Signal Corps operated a Weather Station at Fort Sully along the Missouri River in Dakota Territory until December 18, 1877. It was then moved west to the gold rush boom town of Deadwood in the Black Hills. The first office in Deadwood was located on Sherman Street. Poor instrument exposure forced the office to relocate the instruments to Lead in June of 1878. They remained in Lead through October 31st of that year, and then they were moved back to Deadwood. The instruments were moved six more times within the city from 1878 through 1887. Late in 1887, it was decided to permanently move the weather station to Rapid City, on the eastern flanks of the Black Hills.
The first weather station in Rapid City, Dakota Territory was established by the Army Signal Corps on December 1st, 1887. It was located in room 16, on the third floor of the Sweeney building, on the southwest corner of Main and Seventh streets. The weather instruments were relocated from Deadwood in December of 1887, and observations officially began in Rapid City on January 1st of 1888. On November 2nd of 1889, Dakota Territory became the states of North and South Dakota. On October 1st of 1890, the Army Signal Corps transferred the Rapid City weather station to the newly formed civilian Weather Bureau. The arrows are pointing to weather instruments on the roof in the picture.
Photo Date: January 1, 1888
On February 1st, 1897 the Weather Bureau Office and equipment were moved to the Lakota Building on the northeast corner of Seventh and St. Joseph streets. The instruments were also located on the roof of the building. Temperature readings could have been affected at times by two live chimneys, one located 13.6 feet northwest of the shelter, and the other one 20 feet northeast of the shelter. This building is currently known as the Buell Building.
Photo Date: January 1, 1897
On May 13th, 1914, the Weather Bureau Office moved to the Federal Building on the southeast corner of 8th and St. Joseph streets. The office was located on the second floor in rooms 251, 253, and 256. The instrument shelter was located on the roof of the building.
These are the instruments that were on the roof. At first, the weather observations were only taken twice per day. Beginning in the mid 1930's this was increased to four times per day, and in 1939 it was increased to hourly.
Photo Date: 1932
Photo Date: 1932
The wind direction and wind speed system is in the foreground. The silver buckets in the background are for rain measurements. The black instrument next to the wind system is unknown.
Photo Date: 1932
The Weather Bureau established an office at the Rapid City Municipal Airport 8 miles northeast of town (now Ellsworth AFB) on January 19th, 1939. The Weather Bureau office at the Federal Building in Rapid City remained open and was still the station of record until July 29, 1942. On that date, the two offices consolidated, and the official triple register instrument was moved to the Weather Bureau Office at the airport. Due to local business interests, a basic set of equipment was left at the Post Office in the Federal Building, and a Weather Bureau official came into town once a day to record the high, low, and daily precipitation. It wasn’t until February 1st, 1948 that an “official” cooperative station was established in downtown Rapid City.
Photo Date: 1939
Photo Date: 1939
On October 5, 1950 the Weather Bureau office was moved to the Administration Building at the new Municipal Airport (now Rapid City Regional Airport), which is about 8 miles east-southeast of Rapid City.
Photo Date: October 5, 1950
A US Weather Bureau employee used the equipment to track and plot the balloon flight.
Photo Date: August, 1963
In 1970 the US Weather Bureau name was changed to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service Office was moved to the Federal Service Building at the airport on November 2nd, 1971. This was just an office space change, and the instruments remained in the same place.
Photo Date: October 28, 1971
The Black Hills Flood occurred on June 9, 1972. This flood caused extensive damage in Rapid city and the outlying towns. Totals included 238 deaths, 5 missing, 3,087 injured including, 118 hospitalized, 770 permanent homes and 565 mobile homes were destroyed, 2,035 permanent homes and 785 mobile homes were damaged. Total damage throughout the Black Hills was 165 million dollars.
Flood damage on East Blvd. at Omaha St. in Rapid City, June 10, 1972 (photo courtesy of the Rapid City Journal)
On September 1st, 1995, the Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) was commissioned at Rapid City Regional Airport. This allowed the Weather Forecasting Office of Rapid City to move to the hill behind South Dakota Mines. South Dakota Mines donated the land and has continued to be a close partner of our office. All services were consolidated in the City Office on November 11, 1995.
Photo Date: December 9, 1995
Photo Date: 1995
Also in December 1995, the National Weather Service Office in Rapid City became the proud new owner of a WSR-88D Doppler Radar. The Doppler Radar It is located 15 miles east of Rapid City and watches over western SD and northeastern WY.
Photo Date: 1995
Photo Date: 1995
Photo Date: 1995
In August 1996, the original WSR-74C radar at the airport was turned off for the last time. In July 1976, this NWS employee turned the WSR-74C on for the first time.
Photo Date: 1996
On July 18, 2006 a wildfire burned the grassland areas around our office. The fire never reached our building due to the quick response of the Rapid City Fire Department and SEAT (single engine air tanker) aircraft.
Photo Date: July 18, 2006
Photo Date: July 18, 2006
Photo Date: July 18, 2006
There have been many improvements to our Doppler Radar since 1995. Dual-pol doppler radar enhancements were added in 2013. Here, we find one of our Electronics Technicians tuning the radar and a picture of the radar tower.
Photo Dates: June, 2009
On October 3-5, 2013 our office endured a historic blizzard. The storm dumped 23.1 inches of snow on the office along wind gusts from 50 to 60 MPH for about 24 hours. Several NWS forecasters were stuck at the office for about 2 days.
Photo Date: October 5, 2013
Photo Date: October 5, 2013
On October 8, 2016 we held an open house for the public. Folks were able to tour the office and were treated to a special balloon launch. Learn more about our balloon launches.
Photo Date: October 8, 2016
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