Fort Thompson, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Thompson, Buffalo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Thompson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 70 days in the Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Thompson, mostly in April and October. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (45 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 70 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Aug 2025 | Jun 20, 2015 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Apr 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 39 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 26 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Jun 2019 | Jun 1, 2019 · $985,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jun 2024 | Jun 20, 2024 · $134,000 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 Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Thompson get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Fort Thompson, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake Sharpe Prj weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 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 Fort Thompson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 108 miles north-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 Fort Thompson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 108 mi north-northeast | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 137 mi east-southeast | 15,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 157 mi south-southwest | 19,500 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 Fort Thompson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 58 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Thompson, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 16, 1992, which touched down near town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 15, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 219 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 21 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 11, 2003.
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 Fort Thompson'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.
Fort Thompson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Thompson, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 108 miles north-northeast. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Thompson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Thompson the lowest scan from KABR is about 10,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Thompson 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 Fort Thompson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chamberlain, SD radar 18 mi
- Miller, SD radar 38 mi
- Pierre, SD radar 50 mi
- Winner, SD radar 52 mi
- Fort Pierre, SD radar 53 mi
- Platte, SD radar 54 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 57 mi