
Gusty winds and dry conditions will continue to bring elevated to critical fire weather conditions to the southern Plains and Southeast early this week. A Pacific storm system will bring low elevation rain and heavy high elevation mountain snow to northern and central California through early week, expanding into the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and southern California on Tuesday. Read More >

Crazy Horse Memorial
Devils Tower National Monument
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (near the Spearfish entrance)
Badlands National Park (Interior entrance)
Custer State Park
Wind Cave National Park
Angostura Reservoir
Belle Fourche Reservoir
Cold Brook Reservoir
Deerfield Reservoir
Keyhole Reservoir
Pactola Reservoir
Shadehill Reservoir
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584
SXUS43 KUNR 200901
RECUNR
Morning Hot Air Balloon Forecast
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
301 AM MDT Mon Apr 20 2026
This forecast is information to assist pilots and aircrews for flight planning
and is not to be considered as a sole source of information to meet all
preflight actions. Pilots should receive a complete preflight briefing from a
Flight Service Station (1-800-WXBRIEF) or online via 1800wxbrief.com.
...HERE IS THE MORNING HOT AIR BALLOON FORECAST
FOR THE HOT SPRINGS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...
.THIS MORNING...
Sunrise: 600 AM.
Surface Wind Forecast: 6 AM...240/09 mph.
8 AM...240/13G21 mph.
Boundary Layer Wind: 7 AM...240/15 mph. Depth 500 ft.
9 AM...250/20 mph. Depth 800 ft.
RAP Winds (at 7 AM): 250ft...230/06 mph.
500ft...240/15 mph.
1000ft...260/15 mph.
2000ft...270/13 mph.
3000ft...270/12 mph.
Surface Lifted Index: 6 AM...+15.
9 AM...+11.
Density Altitude: 6 AM...3121 ft.
8 AM...4192 ft.
Additional Weather Info: clear below 12000 feet AGL,
unrestricted visibilities.
.OUTLOOK FOR THIS AFTERNOON...
Sunset: 743 PM.
Weather: clear below 12000 feet AGL,
unrestricted visibilities.
Surface Wind: 4 PM...320/14G24 mph.
6 PM...030/09G18 mph.
Boundary Wind: 4 PM...320/24 mph. Depth 9100 ft.
6 PM...350/17 mph. Depth 600 ft.
RAP Winds (at 4 PM): 250ft...320/12 mph.
500ft...320/14 mph.
1000ft...320/15 mph.
2000ft...310/16 mph.
3000ft...310/16 mph.
.OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW MORNING...
Surface Wind Forecast: 6 AM...240/03 mph.
8 AM...220/06G13 mph.
RAP Winds (at 7 AM): 250ft...010/06 mph.
500ft...060/11 mph.
1000ft...090/14 mph.
2000ft...090/13 mph.
3000ft...110/12 mph.
Additional Weather Info: clear below 12000 feet AGL,
unrestricted visibilities.
This forecast is not routinely updated or amended outside of any scheduled
issuances.
&&
Additional aviation observations and forecasts are available at
aviationweather.gov. You can also read the local aviation forecast discussion
at https://www.aviationweather.gov/fcstdisc.
$$
WFO UNR
Note: "Boundary layer" above refers to the planetary boundary layer, or the layer within which the effects of friction are significant (courtesy of the NWS Glossary). The depth of this layer will vary throughout the day, typically reaching its maximum depth in the afternoon and minimum depth overnight.
The soundings below show temperature (in red) and dew point (in green) at decreasing pressures (increasing heights) throughout the atmosphere. Latest Observed Sounding from Rapid City (courtesy NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research)![]() |
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Forecast Soundings for the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (click to zoom) |
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