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Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S.

A cold front pressing east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Strong to severe thunderstorms my bring damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes while excessive rainfall may lead to areas of flooding. Heat will build across the western U.S. with heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories issued. Read More >

Recreation Forecasts

Latest Hot Air Balloon Text Forecast

We'd like to know how you use this forecast. Please send a note to our Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aaron Woodward. Thanks!

                        
935
SXUS43 KUNR 112002
RECUNR

Evening Hot Air Balloon Forecast
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
201 PM MDT Fri Jul 11 2025

This forecast is information to assist pilots and aircrews for flight planning
and is not to be considered as a sole source of information to meet all
preflight actions. Pilots should receive a complete preflight briefing from a
Flight Service Station (1-800-WXBRIEF) or online via 1800wxbrief.com.

...HERE IS THE EVENING HOT AIR BALLOON FORECAST
FOR THE HOT SPRINGS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...

.THIS EVENING...
    Sunset:                          835 PM.

    Surface Wind Forecast:           5 PM...030/15G24 mph.
                                     7 PM...050/10G17 mph.

    Boundary Layer Wind:             5 PM...040/24 mph. Depth 2600 ft.
                                     7 PM...040/17 mph. Depth 2000 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 6 PM):              250ft...040/11 mph.
                                           500ft...040/13 mph.
                                          1000ft...020/13 mph.
                                          2000ft...360/09 mph.
                                          3000ft...330/08 mph.

    Surface Lifted Index:            4 PM...+1.
                                     7 PM...+3.

    Density Altitude:                5 PM...4985 ft.
                                     7 PM...4727 ft.

    Additional Weather Info:         ceilings around 5000 feet AGL,
                                     unrestricted visibilities,
                                     60 percent chance of precipitation.


.OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW MORNING...
    Sunrise:        521 AM.
    Weather:        clear below 12000 feet AGL,
                    unrestricted visibilities.
    Surface Wind:   5 AM...260/06 mph.
                    7 AM...250/06 mph.
    Boundary Wind:  5 AM...250/10 mph. Depth 500 ft.
                    7 AM...250/10 mph. Depth 600 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 5 AM):  250ft...260/08 mph.
                               500ft...240/11 mph.
                              1000ft...240/07 mph.
                              2000ft...240/06 mph.
                              3000ft...280/09 mph.

This forecast is not routinely updated or amended outside of any scheduled
issuances.

&&

Additional aviation observations and forecasts are available at
aviationweather.gov. You can also read the local aviation forecast discussion
at https://www.aviationweather.gov/fcstdisc.

$$

WFO UNR



                

Note: "Boundary layer" above refers to the planetary boundary layer, or the layer within which the effects of friction are significant (courtesy of the NWS Glossary). The depth of this layer will vary throughout the day, typically reaching its maximum depth in the afternoon and minimum depth overnight.

Latest Soaring Forecast

A major operating system upgrade (May 19, 2025) deprecated the software necessary to create the soaring forecast. The soaring forecast will no longer be available. This tab will be removed this summer.

Link: Vertical Wind Profile for Hot Springs Municipal Airport (courtesy CWSU Seattle)

 

The soundings below show temperature (in red) and dew point (in green) at decreasing pressures (increasing heights) throughout the atmosphere.

Winds (in knots; 1 knot = 1.15078 mph) are shown at right.
Pennants or flags correspond to 50 kt, long barbs represent 10 kt, and short barbs represent 5 kt. Winds are also colored by magnitude.
The shaft points to the direction from which the wind is blowing. More information about wind barbs can be found here.

 

Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City


Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City

 

 

Forecast Soundings for the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (click to zoom)

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