National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Tracking Two Storms Impacting the Central and Eastern U.S. Through This Weekend

Two storm systems will track through the central and eastern U.S. through this weekend with areas of gusty winds, rain, and heavy snow. Severe thunderstorms are forecast Friday from the central Gulf Coast into parts of the lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. Heavy to excessive rainfall is forecast from the lower Mississippi River Valley to the Tennessee Valley which may bring flooding. 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.