Wessington Springs 7SW Weather Records (USC00399077)

Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Wessington Springs 7SW (USC00399077), South Dakota, United States, with 51 years of record.

Key Facts for Wessington Springs 7SW

Wessington Springs 7SW (USC00399077) is a weather station in South Dakota, United States at 44.04 latitude and -98.71 longitude, 543 m (1,780 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1948 to 1998, 51 years of record.
646 records set at Wessington Springs 7SW still stand.
Records are tracked for prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Wessington Springs 7SW set a daily record snowfall of 20.3 cm (8.0 in) on 10 November 1998.

About the Station

Location: South Dakota, United States, 44.04 latitude, -98.71 longitude.
Elevation: 543 m (1,780 ft).
Period of record: 1948 to 1998, 51 years.
Eligible elements: prcp, snow, snwd.

Daily Record Envelope and 2026

0 days at or beyond a record

The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Wessington Springs 7SW. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

Daily record high and record low at Wessington Springs 7SW, with 2026 drawn through them
Month	Highest record high	Lowest record low	2026 highest maximum	2026 lowest minimum
Jan	-1.1 C (30.0 F)	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Feb	18.3 C (64.9 F)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Mar	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Apr	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
May	33.3 C (91.9 F)	-2.2 C (28.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Jun	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jul	40.0 C (104.0 F)	5.0 C (41.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Aug	43.3 C (109.9 F)	6.7 C (44.1 F)	n/a	n/a
Sep	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Oct	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nov	19.4 C (66.9 F)	-16.1 C (3.0 F)	n/a	n/a
Dec	6.1 C (43.0 F)	-33.3 C (-27.9 F)	n/a	n/a

Which Years Hold Standing Records

646 standing records

646 records at Wessington Springs 7SW still stand. 1980 holds the most, with 184.

All-Time Record Progression

2 new records

2 all-time records were set at Wessington Springs 7SW between 23 January 1982 and 24 January 1982. Each dot is a new record.

Wettest Day of Each Month

Jul: 101.6 mm (4.0 in)

The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Wessington Springs 7SW. The most was 101.6 mm (4.0 in) on 26 July 1968.

Record daily precipitation for each month at Wessington Springs 7SW
Month	Record daily precipitation (mm)	Date
Jan	33.0 mm (1.3 in)	18 January 1996
Feb	30.5 mm (1.2 in)	19 February 1971
Mar	48.3 mm (1.9 in)	17 March 1987
Apr	63.5 mm (2.5 in)	18 April 1995
May	68.6 mm (2.7 in)	27 May 1973
Jun	72.4 mm (2.9 in)	10 June 1986
Jul	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	26 July 1968
Aug	72.9 mm (2.9 in)	9 August 1962
Sep	97.0 mm (3.8 in)	19 September 1996
Oct	39.4 mm (1.6 in)	14 October 1966
Nov	50.8 mm (2.0 in)	2 November 1972
Dec	34.3 mm (1.4 in)	22 December 1968

Period of Record Coverage

1953 to 1981

7 years of record at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1953 to 1981. 7 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1953, 1965, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981.

Latest Records

Latest records at Wessington Springs 7SW
Date	Station	Record	Value	Beat old record by	Old record stood	Significance
10 November 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	17.3 cm (6.8 in)	29 years	46 of 100 (Notable)
4 October 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	33.5 mm (1.3 in)	17.0 mm (0.7 in)	47 years	40 of 100 (Notable)
2 August 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	49.8 mm (2.0 in)	5.6 mm (0.22 in)	41 years	22 of 100 (Routine)
19 July 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	24.6 mm (1.0 in)	8.6 mm (0.34 in)	8 years	15 of 100 (Routine)
6 July 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	40.6 mm (1.6 in)	17.2 mm (0.7 in)	20 years	27 of 100 (Routine)
7 March 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall (Tie)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	tie	48 years	4 of 100 (Routine)
21 January 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	10.4 mm (0.4 in)	3.3 mm (0.13 in)	24 years	19 of 100 (Routine)
12 January 1998	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	1.8 cm (0.7 in)	35 years	19 of 100 (Routine)
14 November 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	3.8 mm (0.15 in)	2.3 mm (0.09 in)	14 years	12 of 100 (Routine)
14 November 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall	3.8 cm (1.5 in)	1.3 cm (0.5 in)	2 years	7 of 100 (Routine)
1 September 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	63.0 mm (2.5 in)	22.1 mm (0.9 in)	38 years	34 of 100 (Routine)
11 July 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	24.4 mm (1.0 in)	0.3 mm (0.01 in)	32 years	14 of 100 (Routine)
2 May 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	43.4 mm (1.7 in)	29.9 mm (1.2 in)	14 years	36 of 100 (Notable)
22 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	29.7 mm (1.2 in)	3.0 mm (0.12 in)	28 years	16 of 100 (Routine)
10 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall	20.3 cm (8.0 in)	5.1 cm (2.0 in)	2 years	12 of 100 (Routine)
7 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snow depth (Tie)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	tie	15 years	2 of 100 (Routine)
6 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily rain	15.5 mm (0.6 in)	1.5 mm (0.06 in)	39 years	17 of 100 (Routine)
6 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snowfall (Tie)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	tie	39 years	4 of 100 (Routine)
6 April 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snow depth (Tie)	10.2 cm (4.0 in)	tie	40 years	4 of 100 (Routine)
14 February 1997	Wessington Springs 7SW, US	daily snow depth	53.3 cm (21.0 in)	7.6 cm (3.0 in)	28 years	18 of 100 (Routine)

Extremes by Year

1948 to 1998

Yearly extremes at Wessington Springs 7SW: the record and the median year
Measure	Record	Year of the record	Median year	Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)	43.3 C (109.9 F)	1980	18.3 C (64.9 F)	7
Coldest night (TNn)	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)	1979	-9.1 C (15.5 F)	6
Wettest day (Rx1day)	101.6 mm (4.0 in)	1968	47.8 mm (1.9 in)	51
Wettest five days (Rx5day)	137.2 mm (5.4 in)	1962	67.1 mm (2.6 in)	51
Longest dry spell (CDD)	59 days	1983	36 days	51

Hottest day (TXx)

The hottest day of the year at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1948 to 1998. The record is 43.3 C (109.9 F) in 1980, marked on the chart; the median year is 18.3 C (64.9 F).

Hottest day (TXx) at Wessington Springs 7SW by year
Year	Hottest day (TXx)
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	6.7 C (44.1 F)
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	33.3 C (91.9 F)
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	n/a
1970	n/a
1971	19.4 C (66.9 F)
1972	n/a
1973	n/a
1974	n/a
1975	n/a
1976	n/a
1977	n/a
1978	6.1 C (43.0 F)
1979	-1.1 C (30.0 F)
1980	43.3 C (109.9 F)
1981	18.3 C (64.9 F)
1982	n/a
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a

Coldest night (TNn)

The coldest night of the year at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1948 to 1998. The record is -33.9 C (-29.0 F) in 1979, marked on the chart; the median year is -9.1 C (15.5 F).

Coldest night (TNn) at Wessington Springs 7SW by year
Year	Coldest night (TNn)
1948	n/a
1949	n/a
1950	n/a
1951	n/a
1952	n/a
1953	6.7 C (44.1 F)
1954	n/a
1955	n/a
1956	n/a
1957	n/a
1958	n/a
1959	n/a
1960	n/a
1961	n/a
1962	n/a
1963	n/a
1964	n/a
1965	-2.2 C (28.0 F)
1966	n/a
1967	n/a
1968	n/a
1969	n/a
1970	n/a
1971	-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1972	n/a
1973	n/a
1974	n/a
1975	n/a
1976	n/a
1977	n/a
1978	-33.3 C (-27.9 F)
1979	-33.9 C (-29.0 F)
1980	5.0 C (41.0 F)
1981	n/a
1982	n/a
1983	n/a
1984	n/a
1985	n/a
1986	n/a
1987	n/a
1988	n/a
1989	n/a
1990	n/a
1991	n/a
1992	n/a
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a

Wettest day (Rx1day)

The wettest day of the year at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1948 to 1998. The record is 101.6 mm (4.0 in) in 1968, marked on the chart; the median year is 47.8 mm (1.9 in).

Wettest day (Rx1day) at Wessington Springs 7SW by year
Year	Wettest day (Rx1day)
1948	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1949	34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1950	56.4 mm (2.2 in)
1951	39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1952	37.3 mm (1.5 in)
1953	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1954	55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1955	34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1956	44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1957	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1958	53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1959	40.9 mm (1.6 in)
1960	31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1961	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1962	72.9 mm (2.9 in)
1963	26.9 mm (1.1 in)
1964	53.6 mm (2.1 in)
1965	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1966	39.4 mm (1.6 in)
1967	37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1968	101.6 mm (4.0 in)
1969	33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1970	48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1971	37.3 mm (1.5 in)
1972	52.6 mm (2.1 in)
1973	68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1974	58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1975	30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1976	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1977	45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1978	31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1979	38.4 mm (1.5 in)
1980	46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1981	41.1 mm (1.6 in)
1982	47.8 mm (1.9 in)
1983	41.4 mm (1.6 in)
1984	44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1985	31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1986	72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1987	49.0 mm (1.9 in)
1988	66.8 mm (2.6 in)
1989	51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1990	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1991	60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1992	34.8 mm (1.4 in)
1993	49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1994	50.5 mm (2.0 in)
1995	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1996	97.0 mm (3.8 in)
1997	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1998	49.8 mm (2.0 in)

Wettest five days (Rx5day)

The wettest five days of the year at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1948 to 1998. The record is 137.2 mm (5.4 in) in 1962, marked on the chart; the median year is 67.1 mm (2.6 in).

Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Wessington Springs 7SW by year
Year	Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1948	62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1949	57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1950	65.2 mm (2.6 in)
1951	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1952	48.6 mm (1.9 in)
1953	112.3 mm (4.4 in)
1954	71.2 mm (2.8 in)
1955	54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1956	85.9 mm (3.4 in)
1957	63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1958	64.4 mm (2.5 in)
1959	46.8 mm (1.8 in)
1960	43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1961	87.9 mm (3.5 in)
1962	137.2 mm (5.4 in)
1963	50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1964	67.1 mm (2.6 in)
1965	72.6 mm (2.9 in)
1966	63.8 mm (2.5 in)
1967	77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1968	129.5 mm (5.1 in)
1969	46.6 mm (1.8 in)
1970	74.5 mm (2.9 in)
1971	54.8 mm (2.2 in)
1972	87.9 mm (3.5 in)
1973	87.1 mm (3.4 in)
1974	59.7 mm (2.4 in)
1975	58.5 mm (2.3 in)
1976	32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1977	70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1978	57.9 mm (2.3 in)
1979	57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1980	76.1 mm (3.0 in)
1981	75.6 mm (3.0 in)
1982	86.3 mm (3.4 in)
1983	71.6 mm (2.8 in)
1984	91.7 mm (3.6 in)
1985	57.3 mm (2.3 in)
1986	84.4 mm (3.3 in)
1987	71.5 mm (2.8 in)
1988	114.8 mm (4.5 in)
1989	58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1990	93.2 mm (3.7 in)
1991	88.1 mm (3.5 in)
1992	55.3 mm (2.2 in)
1993	60.5 mm (2.4 in)
1994	59.4 mm (2.3 in)
1995	93.6 mm (3.7 in)
1996	115.3 mm (4.5 in)
1997	63.0 mm (2.5 in)
1998	99.0 mm (3.9 in)

Longest dry spell (CDD)

The longest dry spell of the year at Wessington Springs 7SW, 1948 to 1998. The record is 59 days in 1983, marked on the chart; the median year is 36 days.

Longest dry spell (CDD) at Wessington Springs 7SW by year
Year	Longest dry spell (CDD)
1948	29 days
1949	38 days
1950	25 days
1951	33 days
1952	34 days
1953	39 days
1954	27 days
1955	38 days
1956	25 days
1957	32 days
1958	39 days
1959	24 days
1960	25 days
1961	36 days
1962	46 days
1963	26 days
1964	58 days
1965	26 days
1966	25 days
1967	54 days
1968	28 days
1969	17 days
1970	23 days
1971	26 days
1972	39 days
1973	22 days
1974	48 days
1975	33 days
1976	41 days
1977	26 days
1978	31 days
1979	53 days
1980	47 days
1981	55 days
1982	54 days
1983	59 days
1984	37 days
1985	26 days
1986	43 days
1987	39 days
1988	44 days
1989	25 days
1990	55 days
1991	45 days
1992	45 days
1993	35 days
1994	39 days
1995	46 days
1996	32 days
1997	40 days
1998	24 days

Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.

Rainfall Return Levels

48 years, 1948 to 1997

A day with at least 46.6 mm (1.8 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 105.2 mm (4.1 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.

Rainfall return levels at Wessington Springs 7SW: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in	A day with at least	Note
2 years	46.6 mm (1.8 in)
5 years	61.0 mm (2.4 in)
10 years	71.1 mm (2.8 in)
25 years	84.4 mm (3.3 in)
50 years	94.6 mm (3.7 in)	Longer than the 48 years of record
100 years	105.2 mm (4.1 in)	Longer than the 48 years of record

The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 48 years of values from 1948 to 1997.

A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.

The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 101.6 mm (4.0 in) in 1968; 97.0 mm (3.8 in) in 1996; 72.9 mm (2.9 in) in 1962.

Download the Data

Data for Wessington Springs 7SW standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Wessington Springs 7SW threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-13 (13 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.

Data as of 2025-12-31. Last revised 31 December 2025 (2025-12-31).

Date	Kind	Detail
1982-01-23	Record snow depth	Record snow depth 91.4 cm (36.0 in)
1982-01-24	Record snow depth	Record snow depth 96.5 cm (38.0 in)