
Extremely critical fire weather concerns for portions of the southern High Plans as strong wind and very dry conditions could result in rapid spread of any fires. Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms are expected once again across areas of the Central and Southern Plains, then spreading in the Mississippi Valley regions on Monday. Damaging winds, very large hail and strong tornadoes are possible. Read More >

Crazy Horse Memorial
Devils Tower National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (near the Spearfish entrance)
Badlands National Park (Interior entrance)
Custer State Park
Wind Cave National Park
Angostura Reservoir
Belle Fourche Reservoir
Cold Brook Reservoir
Deerfield Reservoir
Keyhole Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir
Shadehill Reservoir
We'd like to know how you use this forecast. Please send a note to our Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aaron Woodward. Thanks!
466
SXUS43 KUNR 262003
RECUNR
Afternoon Hot Air Balloon Forecast
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
202 PM MDT Sun Apr 26 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: 750 PM.
Surface Wind Forecast: 4 PM...070/17G29 mph.
6 PM...060/17G25 mph.
Boundary Layer Wind: 4 PM...070/28 mph. Depth 1700 ft.
6 PM...060/25 mph. Depth 1600 ft.
RAP Winds (approx. 5 PM): 250ft...070/10 mph.
500ft...080/13 mph.
1000ft...080/15 mph.
2000ft...100/15 mph.
3000ft...130/16 mph.
Surface Lifted Index: 4 PM...+12.
7 PM...+11.
Density Altitude: 4 PM...3328 ft.
6 PM...3281 ft.
Additional Weather Info: ceilings at less than 1000 feet AGL,
unrestricted visibilities,
40 percent chance of precipitation.
.OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW MORNING...
Sunrise: 550 AM.
Weather: ceilings at less than 1000 feet AGL,
unrestricted visibilities,
70 percent chance of precipitation.
Surface Wind: 6 AM...010/12G20 mph.
8 AM...010/13G22 mph.
Boundary Wind: 6 AM...360/18 mph. Depth 1100 ft.
8 AM...360/21 mph. Depth 1600 ft.
RAP Winds (approx. 6 AM): 250ft...350/07 mph.
500ft...360/12 mph.
1000ft...360/16 mph.
2000ft...360/18 mph.
3000ft...350/17 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.
The soundings below show temperature (in red) and dew point (in green) at decreasing pressures (increasing heights) throughout the atmosphere. Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City (courtesy NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research)![]() |
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Forecast Soundings for the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (click to zoom) |
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