Unseasonably Warm Valentine's: South Dakota Breaks Multiple Temperature Records
- WeatherSD
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
South Dakota experienced an extraordinary stretch of warm weather around Valentine's Day, shattering numerous temperature records across the state. The state's climate typically features cold, snowy winters, with average high temperatures in this month typically ranging from the low 20s to the mid-30s. The sudden rise to the 50s and 60s represents a significant departure from the norm. From February 13 to February 16, several airports reported record-breaking highs that far exceeded typical February temperatures.
The warmth was not limited to one area; multiple locations set new records or tied old ones. Here are some of the highlights and official reports from the National Weather Service on the unseasonable warmth:
February 13, 2026
- Sisseton Airport reached 56°F, breaking the old record of 54°F set in 1983.
- Sioux Falls Airport tied its record high of 60°F, matching a record from 1921.
February 14, 2026
- Sisseton Airport again set a new record with 55°F, surpassing the 54°F record from 1999.
February 15, 2026
- Mobridge Airport hit 59°F, breaking a long-standing record of 58°F from 1934.
- Pierre Airport soared to 65°F, beating the previous record of 61°F set in 2011.
- Sisseton Airport reached 61°F, far above the old record of 51°F from 1981.
- Mitchell Municipal Airport set a new high of 67°F, surpassing the 66°F record from 1921.
February 16, 2026
- Aberdeen Airport tied its record high of 56°F, matching the 1981 record.
- Watertown Airport broke its record with 55°F, beating the 54°F record from 1981.
- Huron Regional Airport tied its 62°F record.
- Mitchell Municipal Airport set a new record at 64°F, surpassing the 63°F record from 2017.
These temperatures are remarkable for mid-February, a time when South Dakota usually experiences cold winter weather with snow and freezing temperatures.
Unofficial Highs from Weather Stations Across South Dakota
February 14, 2026
Wessington Springs: 66°F
Harrisburg: 66°F
Vermillion Airport: 66°F
2.7 Mi NW North Sioux City: 66°F
Tea: 65°F
Sioux Falls (Near Yankton Trail Park): 65°F
Sioux Falls (Near Harmodon Park): 65°F
Sioux Falls (near Tuthill Park): 65°F
2.9 Mi W North Sioux City: 65°F
2.7 Mi W Geddes: 64°F
4.7 Mi S Canova: 64°F
Yankton Airport: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Memorial Park): 64°F
Lennox: 64°F
Lennox (Near Westerman Park): 64°F
Sioux Falls Airport: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Arrowhead and Veterans Pkwy): 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Anderson Subdivision): 64°F
Brandon (Near Aspen Park): 64°F
Canton Airport: 64°F
1.8 Mi N Vermillion: 64°F
Chamberlain (Near National Guard Armory): 63°F
4.4 Mi NE Stickney: 63°F
Mitchell (Near I90 Exit 330): 63°F
Mitchell (Near I-90 Exit 332): 63°F
Wagner Airport: 63°F
6.2 Mi W Yankton: 63°F
6.1 Mi S Brookings: 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Kuehn Park): 63°F
Tea Airport: 63°F
Sioux Falls (Bakker Crossing Golf Course): 63°F
Sioux Falls (Pine Lakes Addition): 63°F
Beresford: 63°F
Pierre (SD Discovery Center): 62°F
Mitchell Airport: 62°F
3.2 Mi SW Dolton: 62°F
Madison (Near Dakota State University): 62°F
6.6 Mi N Humboldt: 62°F
Sioux Falls (Near McKennan Park): 62°F
Garretson: 62°F
3.0 Mi NE North Sioux City: 62°F
4.7 Mi NE Ree Heights: 61°F
Chamberlain Airport: 61°F
Miller Airport: 61°F
Wessington Springs Airport: 61°F
Wasta: 61°F
14 Mi SE Union Center: 61°F
Pickstown: 61°F
Flandreau Airport: 61°F
Philip Airport: 60°F
Winner Airport: 60°F
15.2 Mi SW Wessington: 60°F
0.2 Mi S Interior: 60°F
6.6 Mi E Cottonwood: 59°F
Gregory Airport: 59°F
Wasta: 59°F
Mellette: 59°F
Fairfax: 59°F
12.5 Mi N Meadow: 59°F
DeSmet Airport: 59°F
Rapid Valley: 59°F
Rapid City (Near Centennial Park): 59°F
Rapid City (Near Robbinsdale Park): 59°F
Lake Preston: 59°F
Lake Preston: 59°F
Hot Springs Airport: 59°F
Dempster: 59°F
4.8 Mi SW Angostura Recreation Area: 59°F
Brookings Airport: 59°F
1.2 Mi SW Clear Lake: 59°F
Elkton: 59°F
0.6 Mi SE Gary: 59°F
10.2 Mi NW Fort Pierre: 58°F
13 Mi N Vivian: 58°F
Holabird: 58°F
6 Mi NE Dupree: 58°F
16.5 Mi NE Meadow: 58°F
5.4 Mi NE Mellette: 58°F
Aberdeen (Near Central High School): 58°F
4.1 Mi NE Porcupine: 58°F
Rapid City Airport: 58°F
5.5 Mi NE Summerset: 58°F
Rapid City (near Quarry Park): 58°F
Piedmont: 58°F
0.7 Mi NW of Piedmont: 58°F
3.2 Mi NE Hayti, SD: 58°F
Watertown (Near Herzog Park): 58°F
Estelline: 58°F
Spearfish (Mountain Plains): 58°F
4 Mi S Toronto: 58°F
4.1 Mi NW Elkton: 58°F
5.9 Mi S Revillo, SD: 58°F
7 Mi NW Vivian: 57°F
5.8 Mi W Parmelee: 57°F
2.5 Mi SE Wakpala: 57°F
Redfield Airport: 57°F
Badlands National Park: 57°F
Huron Airport: 57°F
4.9 Mi E Martin: 57°F
Martin Airport: 57°F
19.1 Mi SE Lemmon: 57°F
3.4 Mi S Thunder Hawk: 57°F
Ellsworth Air Force Base: 57°F
Rapid City Weather Service: 57°F
Rapid City (near Parkview Park): 57°F
1.4 Mi NE Black Hawk: 57°F
Rapid City (Near Camp Rapid): 57°F
Rapid City (Wildwood Addition): 57°F
1.7 Mi NE Summerset: 57°F
Sturgis Airport: 57°F
Custer State Park Airport: 57°F
Castlewood: 57°F
0.5 Mi W Kranzburg: 57°F
8.5 Mi NE Edgemont: 57°F
Edgemont: 57°F
Pierre Airport: 56°F
3.2 Mi NE Pierre: 56°F
1.3 Mi W Fort Thompson: 56°F
Mobridge Airport: 56°F
10.3 Mi S Bullhead: 56°F
Faith Airport: 56°F
5.9 Mi SW Opal: 56°F
Richmond Lake Rec Area: 56°F
Aberdeen (Near Manor Park): 56°F
Aberdeen Airport: 56°F
Pine Ridge Airport: 56°F
Rapid City (Near Quarry Park): 56°F
0.9 Mi W Rapid City: 56°F
Sturgis (VA Health System): 56°F
10.5 Mi SW Reva: 56°F
Wind Cave National Park: 56°F
18.8 Mi NW Castle Rock: 56°F
Onida Airport: 55°F
Eagle Butte Airport: 55°F
5 Mi NE Mina: 55°F
6.4 Mi SW Frederick: 55°F
Bison Airport: 55°F
Lemmon Airport: 55°F
Rapid City (near JCT US16/Catron Blvd): 55°F
Rapid City (Colonial Pine Hills): 55°F
1.9 Mi NE Rockerville: 55°F
MID_RCBS2: 55°F
Nemo, SD: 55°F
Watertown Airport: 55°F
Spearfish Airport: 55°F
1.9 Mi SW Spearfish Airport: 55°F
Spearfish (Near Lookout Mountain): 55°F
11.2 Mi SW Redig: 55°F
3.1 Mi W Spearfish, SD: 55°F
5.5 Mi SW Barnard: 54°F
0.3 Mi N Westport: 54°F
Groton: 54°F
4.5 Mi NE Three Forks: 54°F
Mount Rushmore National Memorial: 54°F
0.3 Mi N Lead: 54°F
Milbank Airport: 54°F
Lead: 53°F
3.6 Mi SW Summerset: 52°F
Britton Airport: 52°F
Eureka (South End): 51°F
Eureka (Near Downtown): 51°F
10 Mi NW Long Lake: 51°F
3.3 Mi W Merritt: 51°F
3 Mi NW Whitewood: 51°F
1.5 Mi NW Custer: 51°F
2.7 Mi SW Custer: 51°F
Hill City: 50°F
Custer Airport: 49°F
5.3 Mi NW Lake City: 49°F
Buffalo Airport: 49°F
3.4 Mi W Custer: 48°F
Jewel Cave National Monument: 48°F
Sisseton Airport: 46°F
11.7 Mi S Cheyenne Crossing: 45°F
8.6 Mi W Hill City: 44°F
12.1 Mi NW Hill City: 40°F
Cheyenne Crossing: 36°F
February 15, 2026
Chamberlain (Near National Guard Armory): 71°F
Chamberlain Airport: 70°F
Winner Airport: 70°F
Wessington Springs: 70°F
2.7 Mi W Geddes: 70°F
Mitchell (Near I90 Exit 330): 70°F
Wagner Airport: 70°F
Mitchell (Near I-90 Exit 332): 69°F
Pickstown: 69°F
7 Mi NW Vivian: 68°F
4.7 Mi NE Ree Heights: 68°F
Gregory Airport: 68°F
Wessington Springs Airport: 68°F
4.4 Mi NE Stickney: 68°F
1.8 Mi N Vermillion: 68°F
Vermillion Airport: 68°F
2.7 Mi NW North Sioux City: 68°F
Pierre (SD Discovery Center): 67°F
13 Mi N Vivian: 67°F
Holabird: 67°F
Philip Airport: 67°F
15.2 Mi SW Wessington: 67°F
5.8 Mi W Parmelee: 67°F
0.2 Mi S Interior: 67°F
Fairfax: 67°F
Mitchell Airport: 67°F
Yankton Airport: 67°F
Lennox (Near Westerman Park): 67°F
Miller Airport: 66°F
6.6 Mi E Cottonwood: 66°F
Rapid City (Near Centennial Park): 66°F
Rapid City (Near Robbinsdale Park): 66°F
3.2 Mi SW Dolton: 66°F
Lennox: 66°F
Beresford: 66°F
2.9 Mi W North Sioux City: 66°F
3.0 Mi NE North Sioux City: 66°F
Pierre Airport: 65°F
10.2 Mi NW Fort Pierre: 65°F
1.3 Mi W Fort Thompson: 65°F
Badlands National Park: 65°F
Huron Airport: 65°F
4.9 Mi E Martin: 65°F
Wasta: 65°F
14 Mi SE Union Center: 65°F
4.8 Mi SW Angostura Recreation Area: 65°F
6.2 Mi W Yankton: 65°F
Brandon (Near Aspen Park): 65°F
Wasta: 64°F
Martin Airport: 64°F
Rapid City Airport: 64°F
Rapid Valley: 64°F
Pine Ridge Airport: 64°F
Rapid City Weather Service: 64°F
Rapid City (near Quarry Park): 64°F
Hot Springs Airport: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Memorial Park): 64°F
Tea: 64°F
Tea Airport: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Yankton Trail Park): 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Harmodon Park): 64°F
Sioux Falls (near Tuthill Park): 64°F
Harrisburg: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Pine Lakes Addition): 64°F
Garretson: 64°F
Canton Airport: 64°F
3.2 Mi NE Pierre: 63°F
Redfield Airport: 63°F
4.1 Mi NE Porcupine: 63°F
Rapid City (near Parkview Park): 63°F
Rapid City (Near Camp Rapid): 63°F
4.7 Mi S Canova: 63°F
Sturgis Airport: 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Kuehn Park): 63°F
Edgemont: 63°F
Sioux Falls (Bakker Crossing Golf Course): 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Arrowhead and Veterans Pkwy): 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Anderson Subdivision): 63°F
Mellette: 62°F
5.4 Mi NE Mellette: 62°F
5.5 Mi NE Summerset: 62°F
Rapid City (near JCT US16/Catron Blvd): 62°F
Rapid City (Colonial Pine Hills): 62°F
Rapid City (Wildwood Addition): 62°F
0.9 Mi W Rapid City: 62°F
Piedmont: 62°F
0.7 Mi NW of Piedmont: 62°F
Madison (Near Dakota State University): 62°F
6.6 Mi N Humboldt: 62°F
Sioux Falls Airport: 62°F
Onida Airport: 61°F
6 Mi NE Dupree: 61°F
Eureka (Near Downtown): 61°F
Richmond Lake Rec Area: 61°F
Ellsworth Air Force Base: 61°F
DeSmet Airport: 61°F
1.4 Mi NE Black Hawk: 61°F
Rapid City (Near Quarry Park): 61°F
1.7 Mi NE Summerset: 61°F
Sturgis (VA Health System): 61°F
Custer State Park Airport: 61°F
Brookings Airport: 61°F
6.1 Mi S Brookings: 61°F
8.5 Mi NE Edgemont: 61°F
Flandreau Airport: 61°F
Sioux Falls (Near McKennan Park): 61°F
5.9 Mi S Revillo, SD: 61°F
Faith Airport: 60°F
Eureka (South End): 60°F
16.5 Mi NE Meadow: 60°F
5.9 Mi SW Opal: 60°F
Aberdeen (Near Manor Park): 60°F
Aberdeen (Near Central High School): 60°F
19.1 Mi SE Lemmon: 60°F
12.5 Mi N Meadow: 60°F
3.4 Mi S Thunder Hawk: 60°F
Lake Preston: 60°F
Lake Preston: 60°F
1.9 Mi NE Rockerville: 60°F
Nemo, SD: 60°F
3.2 Mi NE Hayti, SD: 60°F
Watertown (Near Herzog Park): 60°F
Castlewood: 60°F
Wind Cave National Park: 60°F
Dempster: 60°F
Estelline: 60°F
Spearfish (Mountain Plains): 60°F
4.1 Mi NW Elkton: 60°F
Elkton: 60°F
MID_K0D8: 59°F
Mobridge Airport: 59°F
2.5 Mi SE Wakpala: 59°F
5 Mi NE Mina: 59°F
10 Mi NW Long Lake: 59°F
4.5 Mi NE Three Forks: 59°F
0.3 Mi N Lead: 59°F
Spearfish Airport: 59°F
Spearfish (Near Lookout Mountain): 59°F
1.2 Mi SW Clear Lake: 59°F
4 Mi S Toronto: 59°F
0.6 Mi SE Gary: 59°F
Milbank Airport: 59°F
10.3 Mi S Bullhead: 58°F
Aberdeen Airport: 58°F
5.5 Mi SW Barnard: 58°F
6.4 Mi SW Frederick: 58°F
Groton: 58°F
10.5 Mi SW Reva: 58°F
1.9 Mi SW Spearfish Airport: 58°F
11.2 Mi SW Redig: 58°F
18.8 Mi NW Castle Rock: 58°F
Eagle Butte Airport: 57°F
Bison Airport: 57°F
Lemmon Airport: 57°F
3.6 Mi SW Summerset: 57°F
Mount Rushmore National Memorial: 57°F
0.5 Mi W Kranzburg: 57°F
3.1 Mi W Spearfish, SD: 57°F
Sisseton Airport: 57°F
0.3 Mi N Westport: 56°F
Watertown Airport: 56°F
3.3 Mi W Merritt: 56°F
3 Mi NW Whitewood: 56°F
Buffalo Airport: 56°F
Britton Airport: 55°F
Lead: 54°F
1.5 Mi NW Custer: 54°F
2.7 Mi SW Custer: 54°F
Jewel Cave National Monument: 53°F
Hill City: 52°F
Custer Airport: 52°F
3.4 Mi W Custer: 52°F
5.3 Mi NW Lake City: 51°F
11.7 Mi S Cheyenne Crossing: 47°F
8.6 Mi W Hill City: 46°F
12.1 Mi NW Hill City: 44°F
February 16, 2026
Winner Airport: 67°F
5.8 Mi W Parmelee: 67°F
Pierre (SD Discovery Center): 66°F
2.7 Mi W Geddes: 66°F
Chamberlain (Near National Guard Armory): 65°F
4.4 Mi NE Stickney: 65°F
Chamberlain Airport: 64°F
Wessington Springs: 64°F
Gregory Airport: 64°F
0.2 Mi S Interior: 64°F
4.9 Mi E Martin: 64°F
Martin Airport: 64°F
Mitchell Airport: 64°F
Mitchell (Near I90 Exit 330): 64°F
Mitchell (Near I-90 Exit 332): 64°F
Wagner Airport: 64°F
Hot Springs Airport: 64°F
4.8 Mi SW Angostura Recreation Area: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Memorial Park): 64°F
Lennox: 64°F
Lennox (Near Westerman Park): 64°F
Sioux Falls (Bakker Crossing Golf Course): 64°F
Harrisburg: 64°F
Sioux Falls (Near Anderson Subdivision): 64°F
Sioux Falls (Pine Lakes Addition): 64°F
Canton Airport: 64°F
Vermillion Airport: 64°F
2.7 Mi NW North Sioux City: 64°F
3.2 Mi NE Pierre: 63°F
10.2 Mi NW Fort Pierre: 63°F
6.6 Mi E Cottonwood: 63°F
Wessington Springs Airport: 63°F
14 Mi SE Union Center: 63°F
4.1 Mi NE Porcupine: 63°F
Rapid City Airport: 63°F
Pine Ridge Airport: 63°F
4.7 Mi S Canova: 63°F
Tea: 63°F
Tea Airport: 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Arrowhead and Veterans Pkwy): 63°F
Sioux Falls (Near Harmodon Park): 63°F
Sioux Falls (near Tuthill Park): 63°F
3.0 Mi NE North Sioux City: 63°F
Pierre Airport: 62°F
13 Mi N Vivian: 62°F
7 Mi NW Vivian: 62°F
Philip Airport: 62°F
Wasta: 62°F
Fairfax: 62°F
Pickstown: 62°F
Rapid City (Near Centennial Park): 62°F
Rapid City (Near Robbinsdale Park): 62°F
3.2 Mi SW Dolton: 62°F
Sioux Falls (Near Kuehn Park): 62°F
Sioux Falls Airport: 62°F
Sioux Falls (Near Yankton Trail Park): 62°F
Brandon (Near Aspen Park): 62°F
Beresford: 62°F
1.8 Mi N Vermillion: 62°F
2.9 Mi W North Sioux City: 62°F
Holabird: 61°F
Huron Airport: 61°F
Wasta: 61°F
Ellsworth Air Force Base: 61°F
Rapid Valley: 61°F
Rapid City (near Quarry Park): 61°F
Sturgis Airport: 61°F
Custer State Park Airport: 61°F
Madison (Near Dakota State University): 61°F
6.6 Mi N Humboldt: 61°F
Edgemont: 61°F
Sioux Falls (Near McKennan Park): 61°F
4.7 Mi NE Ree Heights: 60°F
15.2 Mi SW Wessington: 60°F
2.5 Mi SE Wakpala: 60°F
Badlands National Park: 60°F
Rapid City Weather Service: 60°F
5.5 Mi NE Summerset: 60°F
Rapid City (near Parkview Park): 60°F
Rapid City (Near Camp Rapid): 60°F
Rapid City (Near Quarry Park): 60°F
Piedmont: 60°F
0.7 Mi NW of Piedmont: 60°F
4.5 Mi NE Three Forks: 60°F
Watertown (Near Herzog Park): 60°F
6.2 Mi W Yankton: 60°F
Yankton Airport: 60°F
Garretson: 60°F
Onida Airport: 59°F
1.3 Mi W Fort Thompson: 59°F
Miller Airport: 59°F
Redfield Airport: 59°F
12.5 Mi N Meadow: 59°F
3.4 Mi S Thunder Hawk: 59°F
DeSmet Airport: 59°F
Rapid City (near JCT US16/Catron Blvd): 59°F
1.4 Mi NE Black Hawk: 59°F
Rapid City (Wildwood Addition): 59°F
1.7 Mi NE Summerset: 59°F
1.9 Mi NE Rockerville: 59°F
Sturgis (VA Health System): 59°F
Nemo, SD: 59°F
10.5 Mi SW Reva: 59°F
Wind Cave National Park: 59°F
0.3 Mi N Lead: 59°F
8.5 Mi NE Edgemont: 59°F
Mobridge Airport: 58°F
Mellette: 58°F
Rapid City (Colonial Pine Hills): 58°F
Lake Preston: 58°F
0.9 Mi W Rapid City: 58°F
Mount Rushmore National Memorial: 58°F
1.9 Mi SW Spearfish Airport: 58°F
Spearfish (Mountain Plains): 58°F
18.8 Mi NW Castle Rock: 58°F
3.1 Mi W Spearfish, SD: 58°F
6.1 Mi S Brookings: 58°F
10.3 Mi S Bullhead: 57°F
5.4 Mi NE Mellette: 57°F
5.9 Mi SW Opal: 57°F
Aberdeen (Near Central High School): 57°F
Bison Airport: 57°F
Groton: 57°F
Lake Preston: 57°F
3.2 Mi NE Hayti, SD: 57°F
Dempster: 57°F
Spearfish Airport: 57°F
Spearfish (Near Lookout Mountain): 57°F
0.5 Mi W Kranzburg: 57°F
11.2 Mi SW Redig: 57°F
Buffalo Airport: 57°F
Flandreau Airport: 57°F
6 Mi NE Dupree: 56°F
19.1 Mi SE Lemmon: 56°F
Lead: 56°F
Estelline: 56°F
Brookings Airport: 56°F
Faith Airport: 55°F
16.5 Mi NE Meadow: 55°F
Aberdeen (Near Manor Park): 55°F
Aberdeen Airport: 55°F
Lemmon Airport: 55°F
3.6 Mi SW Summerset: 55°F
3.3 Mi W Merritt: 55°F
Castlewood: 55°F
2.7 Mi SW Custer: 55°F
4.1 Mi NW Elkton: 55°F
Elkton: 55°F
5 Mi NE Mina: 54°F
Richmond Lake Rec Area: 54°F
Watertown Airport: 54°F
Hill City: 54°F
1.5 Mi NW Custer: 54°F
5.9 Mi S Revillo, SD: 54°F
0.6 Mi SE Gary: 54°F
Eureka (South End): 53°F
Eureka (Near Downtown): 53°F
0.3 Mi N Westport: 53°F
3 Mi NW Whitewood: 53°F
Jewel Cave National Monument: 53°F
1.2 Mi SW Clear Lake: 53°F
4 Mi S Toronto: 53°F
Eagle Butte Airport: 52°F
10 Mi NW Long Lake: 52°F
5.5 Mi SW Barnard: 52°F
Britton Airport: 52°F
Custer Airport: 52°F
Milbank Airport: 52°F
6.4 Mi SW Frederick: 51°F
3.4 Mi W Custer: 51°F
Sisseton Airport: 49°F
5.3 Mi NW Lake City: 48°F
8.6 Mi W Hill City: 47°F
11.7 Mi S Cheyenne Crossing: 46°F
12.1 Mi NW Hill City: 44°F
Cheyenne Crossing: 40°F
