The WFO is located on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus. Public service is geared to an economy largely devoted to tourism, ranching and agriculture. The office has warning responsibilities for South Dakota's western and south central counties and three counties in northeastern Wyoming.
Employees bring their lunch to work.
In Rapid City and the surrounding area numerous restaurants and all variety of fast foods are available. It is widely known as a tourist center and the gateway to the Black Hills. Rapid City has relatively mild winters for its latitude and the occasional occurrence of very low temperatures is relieved by a surprising number of mild winter days and cool comfortable nights. The average winter temperature is 28.8, with a summer average of 62.3. The Black Hills, immediately west of Rapid City, extend about 50 miles north and 75 miles south.