Weather on December 21 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 21st in Badlands National Park (via Rapid City, SD) typically brings cold winter weather, with average highs around 38°F and lows near 16°F. Over 55 years of records, the warmest December 21st was in 2019 (49°F average), while the coldest was 1983 (-14°F) — a 63°F range across recorded history. Precipitation has occurred on 18% of recorded December 21st dates, with snow falling 16% of the time (heaviest snowfall: 2.6"). The last decade has been 11.9°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
The last decade has been 11.9°F warmer on this date compared to 20-30 years ago.
Planning for December 21st in Badlands? Bundle up with warm layers and protect extremities from the cold.
Year by Year History
| Year | High | Low | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45°F | 27°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2024 | 57°F | 38°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2023 | 60°F | 32°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2022 | -5°F | -18°F | 0.15" | 1.3" |
| 2021 | 48°F | 26°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2020 | 54°F | 35°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2019 | 58°F | 40°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2018 | 54°F | 23°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2017 | 20°F | 5°F | 0.08" | 0.6" |
| 2016 | 44°F | 27°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2015 | 43°F | 24°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2014 | 48°F | 30°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2013 | 20°F | 6°F | 0.05" | 0.6" |
| 2012 | 55°F | 29°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2011 | 38°F | 20°F | 0.15" | 1.1" |
| 2010 | 23°F | 10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2009 | 39°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2008 | 6°F | -6°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2007 | 44°F | 17°F | 0.03" | 0.4" |
| 2006 | 38°F | 24°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2005 | 58°F | 35°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2004 | 25°F | 2°F | 0.05" | 0.9" |
| 2003 | 51°F | 37°F | 0.03" | 0" |
| 2002 | 29°F | 13°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2001 | 42°F | 23°F | 0" | 0" |
| 2000 | 10°F | -6°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1999 | 31°F | 9°F | 0.13" | 1" |
| 1998 | 7°F | -13°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1997 | 38°F | 15°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1996 | 26°F | -3°F | 0.48" | 2.6" |
| 1995 | 32°F | 10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1994 | 53°F | 29°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1993 | 36°F | 13°F | -- | 0" |
| 1992 | 40°F | 20°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1991 | 66°F | 17°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1990 | -11°F | -18°F | 0.03" | 2" |
| 1989 | -2°F | -15°F | -- | 0" |
| 1988 | 39°F | 20°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1987 | 46°F | 15°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1986 | 51°F | 18°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1985 | 49°F | 29°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1984 | 36°F | 17°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1983 | -4°F | -25°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1982 | 54°F | 24°F | 0" | -- |
| 1981 | 41°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1980 | 33°F | 10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1979 | 49°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1978 | 44°F | 18°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1977 | 46°F | 10°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1976 | 43°F | 11°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1975 | 54°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1974 | 49°F | 25°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1973 | 54°F | 22°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1972 | 58°F | 26°F | 0" | 0" |
| 1971 | 40°F | 21°F | 0" | 0" |