National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather and Heavy Rain from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic; Heat Persists in the South-Central U.S.

Widespread strong thunderstorms with damaging winds and locally heavy rain are expected across portions of the Ohio Valley into southern Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Rounds of strong thunderstorms are expected to develop across the northern and central Plains. Sweltering heat remains most persistent across the South-Central Plains and Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley through next week. Read More >

The following tables show the climate information for Rapid City, Gillette, Lead, Winner, Lemmon, Sundance, Spearfish, Newcastle, Hot Springs, and Custer on Independence Day, as well as the weather in Rapid City and Gillette for the past 10 Independence Days. Average highs around the area on July 4th are in the 80s, with upper 70s in the Black Hills. Early July is notorious for severe thunderstorms, so be aware of the potential for dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, strong winds, and large hail when celebrating!

Independence Day in 2023 was unseasonably cool across much of the area, with the high in Rapid City only reaching 61°—a mere one degree above the record low maximum for July 4th. 2024's Independence Day was warmer, but temperatures remained below normal, with highs generally in the 70s.