Clear Lake, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Clear Lake, Marshall County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Clear Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 69 days in the Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County — the most common reported hazard around Clear Lake, mostly in January and December. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (65 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (60 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 69 | Dec 2025 | Feb 12, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | May 30, 2011 · $80,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 49 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 22 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $18 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2025 | Aug 15, 2014 · $5,000 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 Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Clear Lake get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Clear Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Roy Lake weather station 3.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 4.3 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Clear Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 54 miles west-southwest. 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 Clear Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 54 mi west-southwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 126 mi north | 13,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 149 mi south-southeast | 18,100 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 Clear Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 59 tornadoes within 25 miles of Clear Lake, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 9, 1968, which passed about 16 miles northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 7, 2023, which touched down about 21 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 199 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 9, 1968.
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 Clear Lake'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.
Clear Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Clear Lake, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 54 miles west-southwest. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Clear Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Clear Lake the lowest scan from KABR is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sisseton, SD radar 15 mi
- Britton, SD radar 20 mi
- Webster, SD radar 27 mi
- Groton, SD radar 40 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 48 mi
- Watertown, SD radar 56 mi
- Aberdeen, SD radar 56 mi
- Clark, SD radar 60 mi