Frederick, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Frederick, Brown County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Frederick?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 144 days in the Brown forecast zone and Brown County — the most common reported hazard around Frederick, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (134 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (65 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 144 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 134 | Oct 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $36 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Apr 2026 | Apr 10, 2013 · 1 death |
| High winds | 56 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 50 | Jan 2026 | Jan 25, 2018 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 49 | Feb 2026 | Dec 16, 1996 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jul 2025 | May 5, 2007 · $5.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 2025 | — |
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 Brown forecast zone and Brown County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Frederick get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Frederick, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Westport 2 Nw weather station 10.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 5.1 | 10.2 | 7.2 | 9.6 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 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 Frederick?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 26 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 Frederick | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 26 mi south | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 126 mi west-northwest | 13,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 130 mi north-northeast | 14,400 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 Frederick
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Frederick, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 2002, which passed about 6 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 5, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 265 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 23, 2002.
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 Frederick'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.
Frederick radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Frederick, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 26 miles south. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Frederick?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Frederick the lowest scan from KABR is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Frederick 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 Frederick, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aberdeen, SD radar 25 mi
- Groton, SD radar 33 mi
- Britton, SD radar 36 mi
- Webster, SD radar 59 mi