Chester, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chester, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 64 days in the Lake forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Chester, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (51 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jul 2025 | Jul 11, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Mar 2024 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2026 | Oct 29, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2019 · $2.9 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 23 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jun 2024 | May 5, 2012 · 1 death · $2.0 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 Lake forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chester get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Chester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chester 2N weather station 2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 3.2 | 10.6 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Chester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 24 miles south-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 Chester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 24 mi south-southeast | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 130 mi north-northwest | 14,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 179 mi east-northeast | 24,200 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 Chester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chester, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 4 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 16 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 323 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 13, 1997.
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 Chester'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.
Chester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chester, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 24 miles south-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chester the lowest scan from KFSD is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chester 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 Chester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Madison, SD radar 12 mi
- Dell Rapids, SD radar 12 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 14 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 18 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 19 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 19 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 25 mi
- Salem, SD radar 26 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 27 mi
- Brandon, SD radar 27 mi