Dell Rapids, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dell Rapids?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County — the most common reported hazard around Dell Rapids, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (88 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Jun 2026 | May 12, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 88 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $28 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 61 | Dec 2025 | Nov 10, 2020 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 51 | May 2026 | Jun 16, 2004 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 41 | May 2026 | Oct 26, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Dec 2025 | Jan 19, 2025 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dell Rapids get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Dell Rapids, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Colton weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 5.1 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 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 Dell Rapids?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 16 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 Dell Rapids | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 16 mi south | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 140 mi northwest | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 171 mi east-northeast | 22,500 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 Dell Rapids
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dell Rapids, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 8 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 21 miles south of town.
Hail: 473 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 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 Dell Rapids'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.
Dell Rapids radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dell Rapids, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 16 miles south. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 140 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dell Rapids?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dell Rapids the lowest scan from KFSD is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Dell Rapids 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 Dell Rapids, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Baltic, SD radar 5 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 13 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 13 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 16 mi
- Brandon, SD radar 17 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 18 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 20 mi
- Madison, SD radar 23 mi
- Tea, SD radar 26 mi
- Harrisburg, SD radar 27 mi