Custer, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Custer, Custer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Custer?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 143 days in the Central Black Hills forecast zone and Custer County — the most common reported hazard around Custer, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (130 days) and flash flooding (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 143 | Jun 2026 | Jul 23, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 130 | Mar 2025 | Apr 18, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jun 2026 | Aug 17, 2007 · $3.0 million damage |
| High winds | 19 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 16 | Sep 2023 | May 21, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 10 | Mar 2021 | Apr 18, 2000 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2014 | Aug 1, 2001 · $500,000 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 Central Black Hills forecast zone and Custer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Custer get?
A normal year brings about 58 inches of snow to Custer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Custer weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually April (11.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 11.0 | 2.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Custer?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 46 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 Custer | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 46 mi east-northeast | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 191 mi south-southwest | 27,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 198 mi southeast | 28,600 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 Custer
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes within 25 miles of Custer, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F2 on July 23, 1966, which passed about 15 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 23, 2021, which passed about 5 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 1,073 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 155 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 22, 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 Custer'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.
Custer radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Custer, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 46 miles east-northeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 191 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Custer?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Custer the lowest scan from KUDX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Custer 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 Custer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hot Springs, SD radar 25 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 28 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 32 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 33 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 35 mi
- Lead, SD radar 41 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 43 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 45 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 51 mi