Rapid City, SD – Residents across western and north-central South Dakota should prepare for a sharp temperature drop overnight as a Freeze Warning takes effect from midnight tonight through 9 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) offices in Rapid City and Aberdeen.
The warning covers a wide area including Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hot Springs, Belle Fourche, Pine Ridge, Kadoka, Philip, and Faith. Temperatures are expected to fall as low as 21°F in some areas, with most locations dipping into the mid- to upper-20s by early Monday morning.
Earlier Sunday, wind gusts of up to 55 mph prompted Wind Advisories for parts of Harding, Meade, and Perkins counties. Those strong winds are forecast to diminish after sunset, allowing clear skies and calm conditions to set the stage for a widespread freeze.
The NWS warns that the cold could kill crops, damage sensitive plants, and freeze exposed outdoor plumbing. Homeowners are urged to bring plants indoors, cover garden beds, and disconnect outdoor hoses before temperatures drop.
This event will likely mark the first hard freeze of the season for much of western South Dakota, signaling the arrival of colder fall weather.
