South Dakota Annual Rainfall and Climate Data, see below for individual cities 


 

South Dakota city precipitation totals

City

Avg Annual Precip

Avg Annual Snow 

 Avg # days of Precip

Avg # thunderstorm days

 Avg # hail days Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year Avg # tornado watches per year # of tornadoes reported in county, 1960-2010
Aberdeen 20.22 36.9 87 39 2 5 13 72
Huron 20.90 40.4 92 38 1 5 12 29
Rapid City 16.64 39.9 96 40 4 4 13 38
Sioux Falls 24.69 41.0 98 40 2 6 12 39
  • South Dakota Annual Precipitation Average - 20.14", 41st wettest in the U.S.
  • South Dakota Tornado Average - 25.8 per year - 8th most in the U.S.   

South Dakota Precipitation Records 

  • Driest location ranked by lowest annual average precipitation: Belle Fourche (22mi NNW), western South Dakota,13.88"
  • Wettest location ranked by highest annual average precipitation: Lead, western South Dakota, 29.85"
  • Snowiest location ranked by highest annual average snowfall: Lead, western South Dakota, 193.0"
  • State precipitation record for 24 hours - Nemo, western South Dakota, 6/9/1972, 15.00"
  • State precipitation record for 1 year - Deadwood, western South Dakota, 1948, 48.42"
  • State snowfall record for 24 hours - Deadwood, western South Dakota, 11/5-6/2008, 43.6"
  • State snow record for 1 season - Lead, western South Dakota, 1996-1997, 424.0"
  • In dry seasons, and particularly in western South Dakota in late summer, thunderstorm bases may be as high as two miles above the 
ground and consequently the rain often evaporates before reaching the ground 
  • The wettest year statewide was 1915, when South Dakota averaged 28.52 inches
  • Ludlow, South Dakota received only 2.89 inches of precipitation for the entire year of 1936
  • On July 25, 1986, tremendous hailstones pounded parts of South Dakota damaging crops, buildings and vehicles. Hail piled two 
feet deep at Black Hawk and northern Rapid City. Hail 1.25 inches in diameter fell for 85 minutes near Miller and Huron, 
piling up to depths of two feet
  • South Dakota temperature averages and extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and interesting Top 10
U.S. climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center