Horse Creek, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Horse Creek, Mellette County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Horse Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 78 days in the Mellette forecast zone and Mellette County — the most common reported hazard around Horse Creek, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (62 days) and high winds (56 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 78 | Jun 2026 | Aug 20, 2000 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 62 | Mar 2025 | — |
| High winds | 56 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 25 | Dec 2023 | Dec 12, 2022 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | May 2019 | Jun 5, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2024 | Jun 20, 2024 · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 2006 | — |
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 Mellette forecast zone and Mellette County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Horse Creek get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Horse Creek, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wood weather station 13.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (9.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 6.5 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 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 Horse Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 109 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 Horse Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 109 mi south | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 112 mi west-northwest | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 176 mi northeast | 23,500 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 Horse Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 40 tornadoes within 25 miles of Horse Creek, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on June 15, 1971, which touched down about 17 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 20, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 235 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 20, 2025.
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 Horse Creek'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.
Horse Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Horse Creek, SD?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 109 miles south. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Horse Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Horse Creek the lowest scan from KLNX is about 11,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Horse Creek 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 Horse Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mission, SD radar 16 mi
- Winner, SD radar 46 mi
- Fort Pierre, SD radar 60 mi
- Pierre, SD radar 62 mi