National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Dangerous Heat in the Southwest; Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Dangerous heat will persist across the Southwest U.S. through Friday with daytime highs of 110-115°F. Heat across the southern Plains will briefly ease to near-normal by late week. Strong to severe thunderstorms may produce damaging wind, hail, a tornado or two, heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Heavy rainfall threat continues across the Gulf Coast. Read More >

The following tables show the climate information for Rapid City, Gillette, Lead, Winner, Lemmon, Sundance, Spearfish, Newcastle, Hot Springs, and Custer on St. Patrick’s Day, as well as the weather in Rapid City and Gillette for the past 10 St. Patrick’s Days. Average highs around the area on March 17th are in the 40s, with average lows in the 20s.

In 2023, much of the area experienced their coldest St. Patrick's Day of the last decade, with highs generally in the 20s and light snow in some locations. However, in 2024, milder conditions returned, with near-normal temperatures and dry weather.