Boulder Canyon, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Boulder Canyon, Lawrence County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Boulder Canyon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 190 days in the Northern Black Hills forecast zone and Lawrence County — the most common reported hazard around Boulder Canyon, mostly in April and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days) and high winds (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 190 | Jan 2025 | Apr 18, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Aug 2025 | Aug 1, 2000 · $9.5 million damage |
| High winds | 21 | Dec 2025 | Jan 4, 2008 · $25,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 14 | Oct 2013 | Oct 3, 2013 · 3 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Aug 2024 | Jul 4, 2019 · $297,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jun 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2015 | Jul 12, 2015 · 1 death |
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 Northern Black Hills forecast zone and Lawrence County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Boulder Canyon get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Boulder Canyon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Meade weather station 6.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 5.3 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Boulder Canyon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 43 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 Boulder Canyon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 43 mi east-southeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 214 mi northeast | 32,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 227 mi southeast | 36,300 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 Boulder Canyon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 52 tornadoes within 25 miles of Boulder Canyon, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 11, 1991, which touched down about 23 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 10, 2020, which passed about 8 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 952 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 140 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 19, 2015.
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 Boulder Canyon'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.
Boulder Canyon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Boulder Canyon, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 43 miles east-southeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 214 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Boulder Canyon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Boulder Canyon the lowest scan from KUDX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Boulder Canyon 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 Boulder Canyon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sturgis, SD radar 5 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 6 mi
- Lead, SD radar 9 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 12 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 17 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 19 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 22 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 30 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 33 mi
- Custer, SD radar 44 mi