National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Strong to Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Heat in the Central and Western U.S.

Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are forecast Thursday from parts of New England into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas. Significant heat will expand across the West and Central Plains through Friday, potentially breaking daily high temperature records. Dangerous heat will then build into the Eastern U.S. this weekend through much of next week. 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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