Fog and sub-40 degree nights hit Rapid City before Halloween warmth returns

Visibility in parts of the KOTA Territory could drop below half a mile tonight as patchy fog settles over the hills and plains. Meteorologists expect these conditions to coincide with a sharp drop in overnight temperatures.

The chill will be substantial. Temperatures are forecast to dip into the low 40s and 30s tonight. This marks a significant cooling trend for the region heading into the holiday weekend. Drivers traveling through denser fog banks should reduce speed and increase following distance to account for reduced sight lines.

Daytime conditions will remain cool through the week. Rapid City is expected to reach a high of 56 degrees tomorrow, with skies showing a mix of clouds and sun. While daytime highs stay near 56 degrees, overnight lows will actually warm by as much as 10 degrees. This warming occurs because lingering cloud cover traps heat that would otherwise escape from the surface.

The weather pattern shifts noticeably by Halloween. Highs in the upper 60s are projected for Saturday across the KOTA Territory. This increase brings fair weather for outdoor activities and trick-or-treating. Sunday will follow a similar trajectory, with highs in the low 60s and partly cloudy skies.

A cold front is scheduled to arrive late Sunday night from Montana and Wyoming. This system will introduce stronger winds and bring chances of rain and snow showers to higher elevations. Residents in the area should remember to set their clocks back when they go to sleep.

The cold front will push temperatures down into the 50s for the following week. Monday is expected to be cloudy, rainy, and particularly windy. Gusts exceeding 40 mph are forecast for that day. Rain is also likely on Tuesday. From Election Day through Thursday, highs will hover around 50 degrees with skies ranging from partly to mostly cloudy.