Brookings, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Brookings, Brookings County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Brookings?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 79 days in the Brookings forecast zone and Brookings County — the most common reported hazard around Brookings, mostly in March and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (65 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (59 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 79 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 2019 · $22 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Jun 2026 | Jul 28, 2002 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Mar 2024 | Oct 1, 1999 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | May 15, 1998 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 18 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2024 | Sep 22, 2010 · $500,000 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 Brookings forecast zone and Brookings County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Brookings get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Brookings, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Brookings 2 Ne weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Brookings?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 50 miles south. 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 Brookings | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 50 mi south | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 113 mi northwest | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 163 mi east-northeast | 20,800 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 Brookings
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Brookings, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 6 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 23, 2023, which touched down about 8 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 247 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 28, 1991.
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 Brookings'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.
Brookings radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Brookings, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 50 miles south. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Brookings?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Brookings the lowest scan from KFSD is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Brookings 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 Brookings, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aurora, SD radar 5 mi
- Volga, SD radar 7 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 20 mi
- Madison, SD radar 26 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 32 mi
- Dell Rapids, SD radar 33 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 38 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 38 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 43 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 45 mi