Artesian, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Artesian, Sanborn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Artesian?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 69 days in the Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County — the most common reported hazard around Artesian, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and high winds (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 69 | Aug 2025 | Mar 20, 2019 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jun 2026 | May 28, 2022 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 40 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 2000 · $17,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Nov 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 31 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2023 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.0 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 Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Artesian get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Artesian, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Forestburg 4 Nne weather station 9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 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 Artesian?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles east-southeast. 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 Artesian | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 66 mi east-southeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 103 mi north-northwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 195 mi southwest | 28,000 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 Artesian
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 102 tornadoes within 25 miles of Artesian, 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 22 miles southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 8, 2020, which touched down about 21 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 297 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 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 Artesian'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.
Artesian radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Artesian, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles east-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Artesian?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Artesian the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Artesian 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 Artesian, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mitchell, SD radar 20 mi
- Huron, SD radar 28 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 32 mi
- Salem, SD radar 33 mi
- Madison, SD radar 41 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 43 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 52 mi
- Volga, SD radar 54 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 56 mi
- Parker, SD radar 58 mi