Aurora Center, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Aurora Center, Aurora County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Aurora Center?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 63 days in the Aurora forecast zone and Aurora County — the most common reported hazard around Aurora Center, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Jun 2026 | Jun 3, 2000 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 49 | Jun 2026 | Mar 10, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Feb 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 33 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 16 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $16 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2024 | Jun 9, 2020 · $5,000 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 Aurora forecast zone and Aurora County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Aurora Center get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Aurora Center, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the White Lake weather station 11.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 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 Aurora Center?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 93 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 Aurora Center | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 93 mi east | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 134 mi north | 15,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 148 mi southwest | 17,800 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 Aurora Center
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 76 tornadoes within 25 miles of Aurora Center, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on May 14, 1962, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 28, 2019, which touched down about 23 miles south of town.
Hail: 274 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 21, 2007.
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 Aurora Center'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.
Aurora Center radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Aurora Center, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 93 miles east. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 134 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Aurora Center?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Aurora Center the lowest scan from KFSD is about 8,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Aurora Center 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 Aurora Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Platte, SD radar 16 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 31 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 32 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 35 mi
- Chamberlain, SD radar 41 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 47 mi
- Tyndall, SD radar 52 mi
- Springfield, SD radar 58 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 59 mi
- Huron, SD radar 61 mi