South Dakota Weather 3/7 Morning - Frost to Flip-Flops

Good morning. South Dakota. I'm Aaron Jolly. Step outside this morning and you'll feel that lingering winter bite—25 degrees statewide with a dusting of snow overnight. But here's the twist: by this afternoon. Here comes a 30-degree temperature split statewide. Classic South Dakota—where one side basks in spring-like warmth while the other clings to winter's last gasp. Out west. Rapid City and the Black Hills are the place to be. You'll wake up to 41 degrees—feeling like 36 with that west wind—but by 1 P.M., you're hitting 60 degrees. Sunny skies, light winds around 9 miles an hour. It's practically a postcard. Tonight? A mild dip to 40, with temperatures rising overnight thanks to those steady west winds. Sunday brings even more heat—73 degrees—with gusts up to 29 miles an hour. Fire weather concerns are real here, folks. Dry air and breezy conditions mean elevated risk, especially Sunday. Pierre and the central plains split the difference. Start your Saturday at 28 degrees—feeling like 19, brisk! But by 4 P.M., you're at a comfortable 58. Sunny and windy, with gusts to 25 miles an hour. Tonight cools to 38, then Sunday soars to 71. That's 20 degrees above normal for early March. —because by Tuesday, we're talking snow chances and highs back in the 40s. Sioux Falls and the east? you're stuck in winter's grip a little longer. Highs today struggle to 51 degrees—still 23 degrees above normal, but nothing like the west. Mostly sunny, with west winds around 10 miles an hour. Tonight dips to 35, then Sunday rebounds to 69. But here's the kicker: by Monday night, a cold front sweeps in, dropping temps fast. Tuesday's high? Just 53 degrees, with a chance of rain and snow mixing in. Winter isn't done with you yet. Sunday is the warmest day of the week—maybe even near-record highs. West river could hit the mid-70s. Fire danger spikes with gusty winds and dry air. Monday starts mild, but a cold front arrives overnight. By Tuesday. Here comes snow likely in the west—yes, snow, up to half an inch—and rain or snow mix east. Highs plummet to the 40s. Wednesday offers a brief rebound near 50, but another system arrives Thursday night with rain and snow chances. We're gaining nearly 3 minutes of daylight each day—sunrise at 6:54 A.M., sunset at 6:24 P.M. and here's your hopeful note: the spring equinox is just 13 days away. But don't pack away the winter gear just yet. This week is a reminder that March in South Dakota is a battleground—where winter and spring duel it out. And the only guarantee is change. If your pipes survive tonight, buy them a thank you card. See you tomorrow. See you this afternoon.