Ardmore, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ardmore, Fall River County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ardmore?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 147 days in the Western Fall River forecast zone and Fall River County — the most common reported hazard around Ardmore, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (65 days) and high winds (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 147 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2009 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Mar 2025 | Dec 25, 2016 · $65,000 damage |
| High winds | 37 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | May 2018 | Jun 1, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Jul 2019 | May 22, 2019 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 9 | Dec 2022 | Mar 23, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 3 | Sep 2000 | — |
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 Western Fall River forecast zone and Fall River County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ardmore get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Ardmore, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ardmore 1 Nw weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (7.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 | 4.8 | 7.8 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 1.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ardmore?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 87 miles north-northeast. 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 Ardmore | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 87 mi north-northeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 142 mi south-southwest | 16,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 173 mi east-southeast | 23,000 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 Ardmore
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 34 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ardmore, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 5, 1982, which passed about 15 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 17, 2019, which touched down about 25 miles west of town.
Hail: 195 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on May 10, 1991.
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 Ardmore'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.
Ardmore radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ardmore, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 87 miles north-northeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ardmore?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ardmore the lowest scan from KUDX is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ardmore 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 Ardmore, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hot Springs, SD radar 29 mi
- Custer, SD radar 52 mi