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Weather & Climate in Hill City, SD
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hill City has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 291 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 22.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 66.6 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35. The city sits at an elevation of 5,082 feet.
Temperature
25°F Jan (-4°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 43.9°F |
| 19% below US avg | |
| January Average | 25°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 291 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,082 ft (1,549 m) |
| Area | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 534/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.9318°N, 103.5687°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Custer County County |
| Nearest Airport | Rapid City Regional (RAP) 27 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 35.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 16.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 47.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
25 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.
| Sep 25, 2009 | 15 km E of Alzada, Montana | M4.2 | 131 km | 5 km |
| Jan 28, 1990 | 8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota | M4.0 | 110 km | 5 km |
| Apr 9, 1996 | 34 km SW of Edgemont, South Dakota | M3.7 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Feb 6, 1996 | 13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota | M3.7 | 14 km | 5 km |
| Mar 9, 2025 | 7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota | M3.6 | 36 km | 5 km |
| Dec 12, 2013 | 10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota | M3.5 | 24 km | 5 km |
| Mar 26, 2021 | 10 km E of Edgemont, South Dakota | M3.4 | 70 km | 5 km |
| Mar 2, 1990 | 7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota | M3.2 | 111 km | 5 km |
| May 3, 1996 | 32 km SSW of Edgemont, South Dakota | M3.1 | 105 km | 5 km |
| Feb 7, 2007 | 11 km WSW of Wasta, South Dakota | M3.1 | 80 km | 5 km |
| Jun 29, 2024 | 22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming | M3.0 | 32 km | 10 km |
| Nov 2, 1992 | 5 km ESE of Lusk, Wyoming | M3.0 | 148 km | 5 km |
| Jan 16, 2012 | 25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota | M3.0 | 68 km | 5 km |
| Jun 16, 2024 | 7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota | M2.9 | 49 km | 8 km |
| Mar 10, 2011 | 22 km N of Van Tassell, Wyoming | M2.9 | 126 km | 5 km |
| Mar 18, 1994 | 4 km SSW of Hot Springs, South Dakota | M2.8 | 59 km | 5 km |
| Jan 5, 2004 | 28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming | M2.8 | 51 km | 5 km |
| Jul 17, 2016 | 15 km NNE of Oelrichs, South Dakota | M2.8 | 77 km | 5 km |
| Apr 4, 2024 | 19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota | M2.8 | 118 km | 9 km |
| Sep 5, 1993 | 4 km NNW of Central City, South Dakota | M2.7 | 55 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
178 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 42 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 29, 1993 | EF3 | 62 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 1991 | EF3 | 41 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 25, 1975 | EF3 | 71 km | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 1965 | EF3 | 74 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1965 | EF3 | 65 km | 20.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2020 | EF2 | 58 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2020 | EF2 | 56 km | 5.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2016 | EF2 | 27 km | 7.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2015 | EF2 | 70 km | 19.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2012 | EF2 | 94 km | 16.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1994 | EF2 | 92 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1993 | EF2 | 52 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 11, 1991 | EF2 | 39 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1985 | EF2 | 70 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 17, 1983 | EF2 | 91 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1983 | EF2 | 89 km | 22.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 1982 | EF2 | 92 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1972 | EF2 | 70 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1969 | EF2 | 42 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1969 | EF2 | 64 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: JASPER (82,298 acres, 2000).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2000 | JASPER | 82,298 | 28 km |
| 2012 | OIL CREEK | 63,182 | 59 km |
| 2017 | LEGION LAKE | 54,868 | 32 km |
| 1985 | FLINT HILLS | 21,062 | 65 km |
| 2016 | FREEMAN | 19,121 | 81 km |
| 2003 | RED POINT | 18,057 | 51 km |
| 2012 | HAY CANYON | 17,815 | 84 km |
| 1988 | GALENA | 16,936 | 21 km |
| 2002 | BATTLE CREEK | 15,034 | 17 km |
| 1990 | SWEDLUND | 14,673 | 27 km |
| 2016 | INDIAN CANYON | 13,791 | 79 km |
| 2001 | ELK MOUNTAIN 2 | 13,758 | 46 km |
| 2001 | ROGERS SHACK | 11,794 | 39 km |
| 2002 | GRIZZLY GULCH | 11,487 | 47 km |
| 2001 | WEST HELL CANYON | 11,097 | 63 km |
| 2007 | ALABAUGH | 10,650 | 63 km |
| 2012 | WHITE DRAW | 9,297 | 61 km |
| 1985 | SEVEN SISTERS | 8,465 | 63 km |
| 1994 | PETERSON-ELLIOTT | 8,321 | 90 km |
| 2000 | FLAGPOLE MOUNTAIN | 7,703 | 69 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.6 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.7 in | |
| March | 31°F (-0°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 39°F (4°C) | 2.3 in | |
| May | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | Wettest |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 3.6 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 2.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 2.0 in | |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 1.6 in | |
| October | 44°F (7°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.7 in | |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.7 in |
Hill City has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 25°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 20.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.6") and January the driest (0.6").