Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 30 min5:11 am – 8:42 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 8 h 53 min7:26 am – 4:19 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 80°F, lows 44°FColdest month December: highs 37°F, lows 6°F26 in of rain a year, on about 111 dayswettest month May61 in of snow a year, on about 38 days5 days above 90°F, 255 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Rochford 2 Wnw station, 1 mi away; rain from North Rapid Creek; snow from Pactola Dam
Parks and public landsBlack Hills National Forestnational forest · within reach · 1,075,125 acresRouseau Lakestate recreation area · 11.6 miState Recreation Areastate recreation area · 17.7 mi · 201 acresJewel Cave National Monumentnational monument · 26.1 mi · 1,273 acresWind Cave National Parknational park · 36.3 mi · 33,927 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes4 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 6 Feb 199610 mi away, near Hill City, South DakotaMost recent: magnitude 3.6 on 9 Mar 202538 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowPennington County, SD, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsHail Relatively HighWinter weather Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality77% of days had good air in 2025282 of 364 days measured81 moderate, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 32, worst day 107main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, Pennington County monitors, SD
Drinking waterRapid Cityserves 72,009 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation5,719 ft1,743 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalMonument Health Lead - Deadwood Hospital17.5 miFire stationRochford Volunteer Fire Department2.3 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportRapid City Regional Airport RAP35 miInterstateI-9020 miUS highwayUS 3858.1 miCoachRapid CityJefferson Lines27 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 57778 ZIP area.
