Big Stone City, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Stone City, Grant County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Stone City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 76 days in the Grant forecast zone and Grant County — the most common reported hazard around Big Stone City, mostly in December and November. Next come blizzards (68 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Mar 2026 | Apr 1, 2025 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 68 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 49 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2013 · $131,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 46 | Jan 2026 | Dec 24, 2017 · 1 death |
| High winds | 44 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 23 | Aug 2025 | Jun 11, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jun 2018 | Jun 11, 2008 · $350,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2023 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.8 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 Grant forecast zone and Grant County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Stone City get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Big Stone City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Big Stone City 2 Nw weather station 1.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.2 | 9.4 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 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 Big Stone City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 95 miles west. 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 Big Stone City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 95 mi west | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 120 mi south | 12,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 145 mi east-southeast | 17,300 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 Big Stone City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Stone City, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which crossed near town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 28, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 236 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 31, 2024.
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 Big Stone City'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.
Big Stone City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Stone City, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 95 miles west. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Stone City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Stone City the lowest scan from KABR is about 8,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Big Stone City 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 Big Stone City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Sisseton, SD radar 37 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 40 mi
- Watertown, SD radar 43 mi
- Webster, SD radar 51 mi