Alexandria, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alexandria, Hanson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alexandria?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 62 days in the Hanson forecast zone and Hanson County — the most common reported hazard around Alexandria, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (48 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (44 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 62 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $29 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 48 | Aug 2025 | Jun 20, 1997 · $1.2 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Feb 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| High winds | 41 | Mar 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 31 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 28 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | May 2026 | — |
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 Hanson forecast zone and Hanson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alexandria get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Alexandria, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alexandria weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 3.2 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Alexandria?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 53 miles east. 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 Alexandria | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 53 mi east | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 128 mi north-northwest | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 177 mi south-southeast | 23,700 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 Alexandria
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alexandria, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 30, 1998, which passed about 8 miles northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 5, 2015, which touched down about 24 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 347 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 42 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 16, 1992.
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 Alexandria'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.
Alexandria radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alexandria, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 53 miles east. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alexandria?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alexandria the lowest scan from KFSD is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Alexandria 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 Alexandria, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mitchell, SD radar 14 mi
- Salem, SD radar 20 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 21 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 27 mi
- Parker, SD radar 37 mi
- Madison, SD radar 41 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 42 mi
- Tyndall, SD radar 46 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 47 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 49 mi