Castlewood, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Castlewood, Hamlin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Castlewood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 57 days in the Hamlin forecast zone and Hamlin County — the most common reported hazard around Castlewood, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and flooding (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 57 | Feb 2023 | Mar 24, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Feb 2026 | Mar 10, 2021 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 50 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $11 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 43 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2013 · 1 death · $215,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 30 | Mar 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2025 | Jun 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Jul 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 Hamlin forecast zone and Hamlin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Castlewood get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Castlewood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hayti weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.0 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 6.9 | 5.2 | 3.8 | 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 Castlewood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 80 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 Castlewood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 80 mi south | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 84 mi northwest | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 170 mi east | 22,300 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 Castlewood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 99 tornadoes within 25 miles of Castlewood, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which crossed near town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles west of town.
Hail: 329 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 11, 2017.
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 Castlewood'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.
Castlewood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Castlewood, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 80 miles south. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Castlewood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Castlewood the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Castlewood 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 Castlewood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Watertown, SD radar 14 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 17 mi
- Volga, SD radar 28 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 31 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 35 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 35 mi
- Clark, SD radar 36 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 39 mi
- Webster, SD radar 49 mi
- Madison, SD radar 50 mi