Carthage, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Carthage, Miner County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Carthage?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 55 days in the Miner forecast zone and Miner County — the most common reported hazard around Carthage, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (41 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 55 | Jun 2026 | May 30, 2022 · $135,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Nov 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 31 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $110,000 damage |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 2000 · $17,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 21 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $19 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2023 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.0 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 Miner forecast zone and Miner County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Carthage get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Carthage, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Howard weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 5.2 | 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 Carthage?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 63 miles 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 Carthage | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 63 mi southeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 95 mi north-northwest | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 208 mi south-southeast | 31,300 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 Carthage
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 116 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carthage, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 24, 2003, which passed about 8 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 10, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 243 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 16, 1992.
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 Carthage'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.
Carthage radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Carthage, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 63 miles southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Carthage?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carthage the lowest scan from KFSD is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Carthage 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 Carthage, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- De Smet, SD radar 17 mi
- Huron, SD radar 28 mi
- Madison, SD radar 32 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 34 mi
- Salem, SD radar 35 mi
- Volga, SD radar 41 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 47 mi
- Clark, SD radar 49 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 52 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 54 mi