National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Cold Temperatures Continue in the Southeast; Snow in the Central Appalachians and Ohio Valley; Rain and Thunderstorms in the Southeast

Cold temperatures will persist across Florida and the Southeast through Tuesday, then milder conditions are expected beginning Wednesday. A frontal system is expected to bring wintry precipitation to the Central Appalachians and portions of the Mid-Atlantic Tuesday into Wednesday, meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms are expected along the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Read More >

Recreation Forecasts

Latest Hot Air Balloon Text Forecast

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SXUS43 KUNR 022002
RECUNR

Afternoon Hot Air Balloon Forecast
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
101 PM MST Mon Feb 2 2026

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 1800wxbrief.com.

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

.THIS AFTERNOON...
    Sunset:                          504 PM.

    Surface Wind Forecast:           3 PM...310/16G33 mph.
                                     5 PM...300/12G23 mph.

    Boundary Layer Wind:             3 PM...310/35 mph. Depth 6600 ft.
                                     5 PM...300/22 mph. Depth 3800 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 4 PM):              250ft...310/19 mph.
                                           500ft...310/26 mph.
                                          1000ft...310/30 mph.
                                          2000ft...310/32 mph.
                                          3000ft...310/34 mph.

    Surface Lifted Index:            3 PM...+2.
                                     6 PM...+4.

    Density Altitude:                3 PM...4073 ft.
                                     5 PM...3700 ft.

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


.OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW MORNING...
    Sunrise:        707 AM.
    Weather:        ceilings around 11000 feet AGL,
                    unrestricted visibilities,
                    20 percent chance of precipitation.
    Surface Wind:   6 AM...260/09G17 mph.
                    8 AM...260/09G17 mph.
    Boundary Wind:  6 AM...280/15 mph. Depth 500 ft.
                    8 AM...280/16 mph. Depth 500 ft.

    RAP Winds (approx. 6 AM):  250ft...290/07 mph.
                               500ft...310/20 mph.
                              1000ft...310/27 mph.
                              2000ft...320/31 mph.
                              3000ft...320/32 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.

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.

 

Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City (courtesy NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research)


Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City (courtesy NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research)

 

 

Forecast Soundings for the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (click to zoom)

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