Box Elder, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Box Elder, Pennington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Box Elder?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 263 days in the Pennington Co Plains forecast zone and Pennington County — the most common reported hazard around Box Elder, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (216 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (62 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 263 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 216 | Jan 2026 | Apr 24, 1996 · $75,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Apr 2024 | Oct 26, 1996 · $75,000 damage |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2023 | May 21, 2019 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 32 | Dec 2023 | Mar 23, 2009 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jul 2022 | Jun 5, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Aug 2016 | Aug 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Pennington Co Plains forecast zone and Pennington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Box Elder get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Box Elder, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rapid City Rgnl Ap weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 10.1 | 1.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Box Elder?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 12 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 Box Elder | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 12 mi east | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 195 mi southeast | 28,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 216 mi north-northeast | 33,200 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 Box Elder
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 44 tornadoes within 25 miles of Box Elder, 6 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 9 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2023, which touched down about 7 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 1,383 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 225 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 8, 2020.
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 Box Elder'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.
Box Elder radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Box Elder, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 12 miles east. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 195 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Box Elder?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Box Elder the lowest scan from KUDX is about 700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Box Elder 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 Box Elder, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rapid City, SD radar 7 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 14 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 16 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 29 mi
- Custer, SD radar 35 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 37 mi
- Lead, SD radar 38 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 45 mi
- Hot Springs, SD radar 51 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 54 mi