Blackhawk, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Blackhawk, Meade County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Blackhawk?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 246 days in the Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills forecast zone and Meade County — the most common reported hazard around Blackhawk, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (89 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 246 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2010 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 89 | Dec 2025 | Apr 30, 2011 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Mar 2024 | Apr 18, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 26 | Jun 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Aug 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Dec 2023 | Nov 5, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | 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 Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills forecast zone and Meade County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Blackhawk get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Blackhawk, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rapid City 4Nw weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 0.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Blackhawk?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 25 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 Blackhawk | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 25 mi east | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 206 mi southeast | 30,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 220 mi north-northeast | 34,300 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 Blackhawk
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 54 tornadoes within 25 miles of Blackhawk, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 11, 1991, which touched down about 7 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2023, which touched down about 16 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 1,613 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 245 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 26, 2021.
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 Blackhawk'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.
Blackhawk radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Blackhawk, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 25 miles east. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 206 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Blackhawk?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Blackhawk the lowest scan from KUDX is about 1,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Blackhawk 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 Blackhawk, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Summerset, SD radar 3 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 5 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 8 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 13 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 20 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 25 mi
- Lead, SD radar 26 mi
- Custer, SD radar 30 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 33 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 44 mi