Lake City, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake City, Marshall County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 69 days in the Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County — the most common reported hazard around Lake City, mostly in January and December. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (65 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (60 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 69 | Dec 2025 | Feb 12, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | May 30, 2011 · $80,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 49 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 36 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 22 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $18 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Aug 2025 | Aug 15, 2014 · $5,000 damage |
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 Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake City get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Lake City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Roy Lake weather station 1.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 4.3 | 11.1 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lake City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 52 miles west-southwest. 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 Lake City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 52 mi west-southwest | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 125 mi north | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 151 mi south-southeast | 18,400 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 Lake City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 55 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake City, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on May 31, 1996, which passed about 24 miles west of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 7, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 208 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 9, 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 Lake 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.
Lake City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake City, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 52 miles west-southwest. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake City the lowest scan from KABR is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake 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 Lake City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Britton, SD radar 17 mi
- Sisseton, SD radar 18 mi
- Webster, SD radar 27 mi
- Groton, SD radar 38 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 51 mi
- Aberdeen, SD radar 54 mi
- Watertown, SD radar 58 mi
- Clark, SD radar 60 mi