South Dakota Experiences Record-Breaking Warm Fall Temperatures
Warm fall temperatures in South Dakota have set records in multiple locations. Sioux Falls recorded its latest hard freeze on record as of November 11. Aberdeen experienced its warmest November average low temperature in 131 years, while Rapid City had…
Sioux Falls, SD, November 12, 2026 — South Dakota has experienced a fall season marked by record-breaking warm temperatures across several locations, impacting typical seasonal patterns. These unusual conditions have led to significant meteorological milestones being reached in various cities throughout the state.
In Sioux Falls, the city registered its latest hard freeze on record, an event that occurred as late as November 11. A hard freeze is typically defined by temperatures dropping to 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.2 degrees Celsius) or lower for an extended period, often signaling the end of the growing season for many plants and requiring preparation for winter weather. The delay of this event sets a new benchmark in the area’s historical weather data.
Further contributing to the trend, Aberdeen recorded its warmest November average low temperature in the 131 years for which records are available. This suggests a sustained pattern of milder overnight conditions throughout the month compared to historical averages, impacting the overall climate profile for November in the region.
Rapid City also saw notable deviations from typical autumn weather, experiencing its sixth-warmest October and its tenth-warmest November in recent record history. These rankings indicate that both months were significantly warmer than average based on available historical data, underscoring the widespread nature of the unseasonably warm fall across South Dakota. The exact causes for these specific record-breaking events were not detailed in the provided information.
Story summarized from the original created by Emily DeCock on www.sdnewswatch.org, see more information here.
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