Bismarck vs Rapid City: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 353 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Rapid City is the sunnier overall: about 2,793 hours of sunshine a year to Bismarck's 2,676. Rapid City has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months, Bismarck in 1 (5 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Bismarck | Rapid City | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,676 | 2,793 |
| Sunniest month | September (86/100) | September (88/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| Rain / year | 500 mm | 451 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 8 (very high) | 8 (very high) |
Bismarck vs Rapid City month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | Rapid City | Bismarck | Rapid City | Bismarck | Rapid City | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -5° | 4° | 14 | 9 |
| February | 0 | 0 | -3° | 4° | 13 | 14 |
| March | 0 | 23 | 5° | 11° | 24 | 24 |
| April | 37 | 57 | 13° | 16° | 38 | 52 |
| May | 81 | 80 | 20° | 21° | 77 | 87 |
| June | 78 | 83 | 26° | 29° | 93 | 68 |
| July | 83 | 77 | 30° | 33° | 64 | 55 |
| August | 84 | 87 | 29° | 31° | 57 | 48 |
| September | 86 | 88 | 23° | 26° | 49 | 38 |
| October | 37 | 60 | 13° | 16° | 37 | 33 |
| November | 0 | 8 | 4° | 9° | 14 | 12 |
| December | 0 | 0 | -3° | 3° | 20 | 11 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Rapid City · Apr Rapid City · May even · Jun Rapid City · Jul Bismarck · Aug Rapid City · Sep even · Oct Rapid City · Nov Rapid City · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Bismarck averages 0/100, Rapid City 2/100. Rapid City is the warmer, around 5°C daytime highs vs -2°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Rapid City (average score 53/100 vs 39). Rapid City is the warmer, around 16°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Bismarck averages 82/100, Rapid City 82/100. Rapid City is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 28°C.
- September–October: Rapid City (average score 74/100 vs 62). Rapid City is the warmer, around 21°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
Full month-by-month guides: Bismarck weather by month · Rapid City weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Bismarck vs Regina · Bismarck vs Fargo · Bismarck vs Minot · Rapid City vs Denver · Rapid City vs Billings · all head-to-heads