Weather on December 17 at Badlands
Badlands National Park
Based on 55 years of data from Rapid City, SD
Elevation Note: Badlands sits at 3,200 ft. Expect temperatures 11°F cooler than the data shown below, which comes from Rapid City, SD at a lower elevation.
Planning Your Visit
December 17th in Badlands National Park (via Rapid City, SD) typically brings chilly winter weather, with average highs around 40°F and lows near 17°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 17th was in 1980 (52°F average), while the coldest was 1983 (-9°F) — a 61°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 11% of recorded December 17th dates, with snow falling 11% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 4"). The last decade has been 4.2°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 4.2°F cooler on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 17th in Badlands? Bring layers as temperatures can vary throughout the day.
Year by Year History
| Year | High | Low | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64°F | 32°F | 0.15" | 0" |
| 2024 | 31°F | 23°F | 0" | 0.1" |
| 2023 | 52°F | 27°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2022 | 26°F | 10°F | 0.03" | 0.1" |
| 2021 | 24°F | 3°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2020 | 44°F | 19°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2019 | 43°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2018 | 58°F | 32°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2017 | 42°F | 28°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2016 | -2°F | -15°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2015 | 26°F | 12°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2014 | 22°F | 17°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2013 | 54°F | 27°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2012 | 39°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2011 | 51°F | 31°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2010 | 18°F | 13°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2009 | 49°F | 32°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2008 | 29°F | -7°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2007 | 43°F | 20°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2006 | 31°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2005 | 9°F | -3°F | 0" | 0.2" |
| 2004 | 53°F | 33°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2003 | 48°F | 35°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2002 | 44°F | 29°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2001 | 59°F | 33°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2000 | 44°F | 3°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1999 | 44°F | 24°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1998 | 66°F | 29°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1997 | 60°F | 23°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1996 | 10°F | 4°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1995 | 43°F | 23°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1994 | 44°F | 19°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1993 | 26°F | 23°F | 0.38" | 4" |
| 1992 | 30°F | 3°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1991 | 55°F | 13°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1990 | 40°F | 10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1989 | 11°F | -10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1988 | 40°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1987 | 41°F | 16°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1986 | 42°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1985 | 31°F | 7°F | 0.56" | 3.1" |
| 1984 | 14°F | -3°F | 0" | 0.5" |
| 1983 | 0°F | -19°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1982 | 58°F | 33°F | 0" | -- |
| 1981 | 31°F | 7°F | 0.03" | 0" |
| 1980 | 69°F | 36°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1979 | 60°F | 1°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1978 | 43°F | 13°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1977 | 40°F | 32°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1976 | 65°F | 31°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1975 | 11°F | -8°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1974 | 49°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1973 | 49°F | 30°F | 0.05" | 0" |
| 1972 | 53°F | 9°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1971 | 50°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |