Cow Creek, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cow Creek, Sully County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cow Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 70 days in the Sully forecast zone and Sully County — the most common reported hazard around Cow Creek, mostly in January and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 70 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Apr 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 39 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2019 · $7.3 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jul 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jul 2009 | Sep 2, 1999 · $275,000 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 Sully forecast zone and Sully County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cow Creek get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Cow Creek, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pierre Rgnl Ap weather station 14.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 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 Cow Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 118 miles east-northeast. 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 Cow Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 118 mi east-northeast | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 120 mi west-southwest | 12,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 154 mi north | 19,000 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 Cow Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 36 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cow Creek, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 23, 1973, which touched down about 15 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 18, 2023, which touched down about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 247 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 45 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 18, 2023.
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 Cow Creek'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.
Cow Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cow Creek, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 118 miles east-northeast. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cow Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cow Creek the lowest scan from KABR is about 12,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cow Creek 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 Cow Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fort Pierre, SD radar 13 mi
- Pierre, SD radar 14 mi
- Gettysburg, SD radar 40 mi
- Eagle Butte, SD radar 48 mi