Badger, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Badger, Kingsbury County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Badger?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 64 days in the Kingsbury forecast zone and Kingsbury County — the most common reported hazard around Badger, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Jul 31, 2024 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Apr 2025 | Oct 1, 1999 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 36 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2008 · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2023 | Aug 5, 2023 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Sep 2019 | Jun 1, 2019 · $32 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 Kingsbury forecast zone and Kingsbury County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Badger get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Badger, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hayti weather station 12.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.0 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 6.9 | 5.2 | 3.8 | 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 Badger?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles south-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 Badger | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 66 mi south-southeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 89 mi northwest | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 181 mi east | 24,700 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 Badger
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 103 tornadoes within 25 miles of Badger, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which passed about 18 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 275 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 28, 2002.
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 Badger'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.
Badger radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Badger, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 66 miles south-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Badger?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Badger the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Badger 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 Badger, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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