National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Storms and Heavy Rain the Mississippi Valley and Midwest; Widespread Heat in the Central US

Severe thunderstorms and showers have the potential for large hail, a few strong tornadoes, damaging winds with gusts over 75 mph, and localized flash flooding across parts of the Mid/Upper Mississippi Valley and Midwest. A widespread heat wave will continue across the Central U.S. and Midwest today. Fire weather concerns persist in the Southwest into the central Rockies and northern California. Read More >

Halloween in the Black Hills region has a reputation of being a cold, stormy night. But do the weather records support this claim? This data shows October weather is highly variable as the seasons transition from fall to winter. Take the last three years as an example: In 2023, trick or treating time was characterized by dry and chilly weather. A year earlier, Halloween was warm and dry with highs in the 60s, whereas 2021 brought cool and unsettled conditions, including some light snow.

Because conditions can change drastically from day to day and year to year, keep track of the forecast and prepare for whatever elements are predicted this Halloween.