Hills, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hills, Rock County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hills?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Rock forecast zone and Rock County — the most common reported hazard around Hills, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Nov 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jun 2026 | Aug 3, 2004 · $2.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 37 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 37 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $6.8 million damage |
| High winds | 35 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 2000 · $13,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Apr 13, 2018 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jul 15, 2011 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2024 | Jun 14, 2014 · $3.0 million damage |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Rock forecast zone and Rock County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hills get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Hills, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rock Rapids weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Hills?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 19 miles west-northwest. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Hills | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 19 mi west-northwest | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 153 mi south | 18,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 166 mi northeast | 21,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Hills
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 115 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hills, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 25, 2010, which passed about 21 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 13 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 506 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 1996.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Hills's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Hills radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hills, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 19 miles west-northwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 153 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hills?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hills the lowest scan from KFSD is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hills free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Hills, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Luverne, MN radar 11 mi
- Adrian, MN radar 23 mi
- Edgerton, MN radar 27 mi
- Pipestone, MN radar 32 mi
- Worthington, MN radar 39 mi
- Slayton, MN radar 44 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 44 mi
- Tyler, MN radar 53 mi
- Lakefield, MN radar 60 mi
- Tracy, MN radar 61 mi