National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Critical Fire Weather Conditions Continue; Pacific Storm to Bring Heavy Snow to the Sierra-Nevada

Critical fire weather conditions are forecast for the Southern Plains and portions of Florida through Thursday, as gusty winds and dry conditions return to the region. A Pacific storm system will bring strong winds and low elevation rain to much of the West Coast and central Great Basin, and heavy high elevation mountain snow to the Sierra-Nevada through Wednesday. Read More >

The following tables show the climate information for Rapid City, Gillette, Lead, Winner, Lemmon, Sundance, Spearfish, Newcastle, Hot Springs, and Custer on Independence Day, as well as the weather in Rapid City and Gillette for the past 10 Independence Days. Average highs around the area on July 4th are in the 80s, with upper 70s in the Black Hills. Early July is notorious for severe thunderstorms, so be aware of the potential for dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, strong winds, and large hail when celebrating!

Independence Day in 2023 was unseasonably cool across much of the area, with the high in Rapid City only reaching 61°—a mere one degree above the record low maximum for July 4th. 2024's Independence Day was warmer, but temperatures remained below normal, with highs generally in the 70s.