Florence, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Florence, Codington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Florence?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 64 days in the Codington forecast zone and Codington County — the most common reported hazard around Florence, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and flooding (52 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 64 | Nov 2025 | Feb 7, 2019 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2013 · $574,000 damage |
| Flooding | 52 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $6.9 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 44 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 34 | May 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Mar 2025 | Jan 10, 1996 · 3 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Aug 2025 | Mar 22, 2009 · $25,000 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 Codington forecast zone and Codington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Florence get?
A normal year brings about 32 inches of snow to Florence, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rauville 2 W weather station 10.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 2.1 | 7.6 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 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 Florence?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 60 miles west-northwest. 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 Florence | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 60 mi west-northwest | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 106 mi south-southeast | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 171 mi north | 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 Florence
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 67 tornadoes within 25 miles of Florence, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which passed about 8 miles southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles south of town.
Hail: 330 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 40 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 1, 1969.
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 Florence'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.
Florence radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Florence, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 60 miles west-northwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Florence?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Florence the lowest scan from KABR is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Florence 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 Florence, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Watertown, SD radar 13 mi
- Webster, SD radar 22 mi
- Clark, SD radar 23 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 36 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 37 mi
- Sisseton, SD radar 44 mi
- Groton, SD radar 47 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 47 mi
- Volga, SD radar 54 mi
- Britton, SD radar 55 mi