National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms In the Central U.S. and Heat This Weekend

Severe thunderstorms overnight may produce damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and flooding over parts of the Plains into the mid-MS Valley. On Sunday, scattered severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts are expected across the Mid-Atlantic vicinity. Hazardous heat will continue in the South, Southwest and central California this weekend building across the Pacific Northwest Sunday. Read More >

The following tables show the climate information for Rapid City, Gillette, Lead, Winner, Lemmon, Sundance, Spearfish, Newcastle, Hot Springs, and Custer on St. Patrick’s Day, as well as the weather in Rapid City and Gillette for the past 10 St. Patrick’s Days. Average highs around the area on March 17th are in the 40s, with average lows in the 20s.

In 2023, much of the area experienced their coldest St. Patrick's Day of the last decade, with highs generally in the 20s and light snow in some locations. However, in 2024, milder conditions returned, with near-normal temperatures and dry weather.