Recreation Forecasts

Lakes, Parks, Reservoirs, and More

Hot Air Balloons

Soaring & Gliders

Soundings

Recreation Areas in Northeastern Wyoming and Western South Dakota Crazy Horse Memorial
Devils Tower National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Monument
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Parks

Badlands National Park
Custer State Park
Wind Cave National Park

Lakes

Sheridan Lake

Reservoirs

Angostura Reservoir
Belle Fourche Reservoir
Cold Brook Reservoir
Deerfield Reservoir
Keyhole Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir
Shadehill Reservoir

Learn About Weather Safety

Latest Hot Air Balloon Text Forecast

000
SXUS43 KUNR 262004
RECUNR

Afternoon Hot Air Balloon Forecast
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
101 PM MST Wed Jan 26 2022

This forecast is information to assist pilots and aircrews for flight planning
and is not to be considered as a sole source of information to meet all
preflight actions. Pilots should receive a complete preflight briefing from a
Flight Service Station (1-800-WXBRIEF) or online via DUATS.

...HERE IS THE AFTERNOON HOT AIR BALLOON FORECAST
FOR THE HOT SPRINGS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...

.THIS AFTERNOON...
    Sunset:                          454 PM.

    Surface Wind Forecast:           3 PM...290/17 mph.
                                     5 PM...290/10 mph.

    Boundary Layer Wind:             3 PM...320/26 mph. Depth 2200 ft.
                                     6 PM...290/12 mph. Depth 1700 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 4 PM):              250ft...330/14 mph.
                                           500ft...330/21 mph.
                                          1000ft...320/26 mph.
                                          2000ft...320/28 mph.
                                          3000ft...320/29 mph.

    Surface Lifted Index:            3 PM...+7.
                                     6 PM...+8.

    Density Altitude:                3 PM...3443 ft.
                                     5 PM...2808 ft.

    Additional Weather Info:         clear below 12000 feet AGL,
                                     unrestricted visibilities.


.OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW MORNING...
    Sunrise:        715 AM.
    Weather:        ceilings around 3000 feet AGL,
                    unrestricted visibilities,
                    20 percent chance of precipitation.
    Surface Wind:   7 AM...280/08 mph.
                    9 AM...290/09 mph.
    Boundary Wind:  6 AM...290/06 mph. Depth 700 ft.
                    9 AM...270/05 mph. Depth 1700 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 7 AM):  250ft...290/05 mph.
                               500ft...330/13 mph.
                              1000ft...340/19 mph.
                              2000ft...340/26 mph.
                              3000ft...340/30 mph.

This forecast is not routinely updated or amended outside of any scheduled
issuances.

&&

Additional aviation observations and forecasts are available at
aviationweather.gov. You can also read the local aviation forecast discussion
at https://www.aviationweather.gov/fcstdisc.

$$

WFO UNR

Note: "Boundary layer" above refers to the planetary boundary layer, or the layer within which the effects of friction are significant (courtesy of the NWS Glossary). The depth of this layer will vary throughout the day, typically reaching its maximum depth in the afternoon and minimum depth overnight.

Latest Soaring Forecast

The soaring forecast has been discontinued for the season and will resume March 1.

Link: Interactive forecast soundings from NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory

Link: Vertical Wind Profile for Hot Springs Municipal Airport (courtesy CWSU Seattle)

The soundings below show temperature (in red) and dew point (in green) at decreasing pressures (increasing heights) throughout the atmosphere.

Winds (in knots; 1 knot = 1.15078 mph) are shown at right.
Pennants or flags correspond to 50 kt, long barbs represent 10 kt, and short barbs represent 5 kt. Winds are also colored by magnitude.
The shaft points to the direction from which the wind is blowing. More information about wind barbs can be found here.