Forestburg, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forestburg, Sanborn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forestburg?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 69 days in the Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County — the most common reported hazard around Forestburg, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and high winds (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 69 | Aug 2025 | Mar 20, 2019 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jun 2026 | May 28, 2022 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 40 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 2000 · $17,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Nov 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 31 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2023 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.0 million 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 Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forestburg get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Forestburg, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Forestburg 4 Nne weather station 3.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 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 Forestburg?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 75 miles east-southeast. 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 Forestburg | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 75 mi east-southeast | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 100 mi north | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 190 mi southwest | 26,700 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 Forestburg
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 93 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forestburg, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 24, 2003, which passed about 24 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 23, 2018, which touched down about 3 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 350 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 37 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 16, 1992.
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 Forestburg'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.
Forestburg radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forestburg, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 75 miles east-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Forestburg?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Forestburg the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Forestburg 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 Forestburg, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mitchell, SD radar 21 mi
- Huron, SD radar 24 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 37 mi
- Salem, SD radar 41 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 44 mi
- Madison, SD radar 49 mi
- Miller, SD radar 56 mi
- Platte, SD radar 57 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 57 mi
- Volga, SD radar 62 mi