Jefferson, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Jefferson, Union County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Jefferson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 90 days in the Union forecast zone and Union County — the most common reported hazard around Jefferson, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (73 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 90 | Jul 2024 | Jun 21, 2024 · $55 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jul 2025 | Aug 2, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 43 | Jan 2024 | Apr 6, 2003 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 42 | Mar 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 28 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Mar 2026 | Jan 14, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 18 | 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 Union forecast zone and Union County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Jefferson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 68 miles north. 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 Jefferson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 68 mi north | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 89 mi south | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 158 mi east-southeast | 19,700 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 Jefferson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jefferson, 30 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on October 4, 2013, which passed about 24 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 16, 2024, which touched down about 14 miles east of town.
Hail: 488 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 56 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 29, 2017.
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 Jefferson'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.
Jefferson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jefferson, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 68 miles north. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Jefferson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jefferson the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Jefferson 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 Jefferson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- North Sioux City, SD radar 6 mi
- Elk Point, SD radar 8 mi
- Vermillion, SD radar 22 mi
- Beresford, SD radar 35 mi
- Yankton, SD radar 46 mi
- Canton, SD radar 48 mi
- Lennox, SD radar 54 mi
- Harrisburg, SD radar 58 mi
- Tea, SD radar 60 mi
- Parker, SD radar 62 mi