Fairfax, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairfax, Gregory County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairfax?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Gregory forecast zone and Gregory County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfax, mostly in August and June. Next come high winds (59 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jun 2026 | Aug 6, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 59 | May 2026 | Apr 25, 1996 · $80,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Mar 2025 | Dec 20, 2006 · $40,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2026 | Jan 17, 1996 · $150,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 27 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $5.9 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Aug 2019 | Aug 9, 2019 · $630,000 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 Gregory forecast zone and Gregory County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairfax get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Fairfax, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bonesteel weather station 4.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 7.7 | 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 Fairfax?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 113 miles 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 Fairfax | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 113 mi southwest | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 115 mi east-northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 169 mi north | 22,200 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 Fairfax
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfax, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 29, 1962, which passed about 11 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 301 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 2, 1999.
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 Fairfax'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.
Fairfax radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfax, SD?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 113 miles southwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairfax?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairfax the lowest scan from KLNX is about 11,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fairfax 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 Fairfax, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Platte, SD radar 25 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 30 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 30 mi
- Springfield, SD radar 51 mi
- Tyndall, SD radar 52 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 52 mi
- Winner, SD radar 54 mi
- Chamberlain, SD radar 58 mi