What will summer weather be like in South Dakota this year? Here's what AccuWeather predicts
This summer is expected to be hotter than normal in South Dakota and across the central U.S., according to AccuWeather's long-range forecast.
The meteorological start to summer is June 1, and it runs through the end of August – three months that, across the country, will feature "sweltering heat, severe weather, intense wildfires and the start of a dynamic hurricane season," AccuWeather's report says.
Temperatures across much of the U.S. are expected to be above the historical average from June to August, with the worst heat in the northern Rockies and across the Great Plains.
South Dakota won't be an exception, with temperatures forecast to be three degrees or more above the historical average from June to August in most of the state, according to AccuWeather's forecast. In the Sioux Falls area, high temperatures have already reached the upper-80s in May, with the average monthly temperature near 80 degrees, a National Weather Service report says.
The high temperatures forecast this summer will likely mean more expensive air conditioning costs for millions of families nationwide. But without relief from the heat, people are more likely to suffer from heat stress and other health issues, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist and climate expert Brett Anderson.
"More people die from extreme heat than from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and cold weather combined," Anderson said.
South Dakota has been plagued by drought since 2024, though recent rainfall has somewhat improved the situation, according to a South Dakota State University Extension report. The U.S. Drought Monitor reduced the drought area from 100% to 58% of the state between April 1 and May 8.
Still, with higher-than-average temperatures expected, AccuWeather's long-range forecast predicts nearly the entire state will be at a moderate to high drought risk this summer.
"Drought can have a big impact on the growing season in this region, including spring wheat, corn and soybeans," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: AccuWeather forecasts a hot, dry summer for South Dakota in 2025
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Newsweek
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