Hill City, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hill City, Pennington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hill City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 263 days in the Central Black Hills forecast zone and Pennington County — the most common reported hazard around Hill City, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (130 days) and flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 263 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 130 | Mar 2025 | Apr 18, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2023 | May 21, 2019 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jul 2022 | Jun 5, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 19 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Aug 2016 | Aug 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 10 | Mar 2021 | Apr 18, 2000 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 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 Central Black Hills forecast zone and Pennington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hill City get?
A normal year brings about 67 inches of snow to Hill City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hill City weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually April (13.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.1 | 8.7 | 11.6 | 13.8 | 4.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Hill City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 39 miles east-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 Hill City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 39 mi east-northeast | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 202 mi south-southwest | 29,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 204 mi southeast | 30,100 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 Hill City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 38 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hill City, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on July 12, 1965, which passed about 24 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 23, 2021, which passed about 14 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 1,532 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 224 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 22, 1968.
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 Hill City'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.
Hill City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hill City, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 39 miles east-northeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 202 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hill City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hill City the lowest scan from KUDX is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hill City 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 Hill City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Custer, SD radar 12 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 20 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 21 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 22 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 27 mi
- Lead, SD radar 31 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 32 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 33 mi
- Hot Springs, SD radar 36 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 41 mi