Hartford, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hartford, Minnehaha County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hartford?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County — the most common reported hazard around Hartford, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (88 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Jun 2026 | May 12, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 88 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $28 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 61 | Dec 2025 | Nov 10, 2020 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 51 | May 2026 | Jun 16, 2004 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 41 | May 2026 | Oct 26, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Dec 2025 | Jan 19, 2025 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hartford get?
A normal year brings about 45 inches of snow to Hartford, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sioux Falls weather station 10.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 6.2 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 7.2 | 5.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Hartford?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 11 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 Hartford | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 11 mi east-southeast | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 146 mi north-northwest | 17,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 162 mi south | 20,500 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 Hartford
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 129 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hartford, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 7 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 12 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 518 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 14, 1970.
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 Hartford'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.
Hartford radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hartford, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 11 miles east-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hartford?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hartford the lowest scan from KFSD is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hartford 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 Hartford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Crooks, SD radar 7 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 12 mi
- Tea, SD radar 13 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 14 mi
- Harrisburg, SD radar 17 mi
- Brandon, SD radar 18 mi
- Dell Rapids, SD radar 18 mi
- Parker, SD radar 18 mi
- Lennox, SD radar 19 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 23 mi