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Areas of Excessive Rainfall and Severe Thunderstorms; Fire Weather Concerns in the Northern Plains and Four Corners Region

Widespread showers and thunderstorms may bring areas of flash flooding across much of the Southern Plains into the Gulf Coast region and the upper Ohio River Valley into the Mid-Atlantic. A large Pacific storm will bring widespread rain, gusty winds, and mountain snow to California and the Great Basin. Fire weather concerns expected in the Northern Plains and the Four Corners region. Read More >

Overview

A strong low pressure system moved across the Northern Plains on Monday, March 29th, 2021, and brought a period of very strong winds to the region. Strong west to southwest winds developed Sunday night, then shifted to the northwest on Monday as a vigorous cold front swept through. The strongest wind gust of 81 mph was measured Monday morning on the south side of Rapid City. In addition, very dry air combined with the strong winds and dry vegetation led to multiple fires in the Black Hills and prairies, with the Schroeder Fire infringing on the western edge of Rapid City and the Divide Fire in Perkins County.

The image to the right shows the wind observations at the NWS office near downtown Rapid City for March 29th.
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NWS Rapid City Wind Observations
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