Lake Norden, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Norden, Hamlin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Norden?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 57 days in the Hamlin forecast zone and Hamlin County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Norden, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (55 days) and flooding (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 57 | Feb 2023 | Mar 24, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Feb 2026 | Mar 10, 2021 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 50 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $11 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 43 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2013 · 1 death · $215,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 30 | Mar 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jun 2025 | Jun 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | 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 Hamlin forecast zone and Hamlin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Norden get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Lake Norden, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hayti weather station 5.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.0 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 6.9 | 5.2 | 3.8 | 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 Lake Norden?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 73 miles south-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 Lake Norden | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 73 mi south-southeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 84 mi northwest | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 180 mi east | 24,500 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 Lake Norden
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 107 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Norden, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which passed about 13 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 334 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 40 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 28, 2002.
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 Norden'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 Norden radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Norden, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 73 miles south-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Norden?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Norden the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Norden 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 Norden, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- De Smet, SD radar 21 mi
- Volga, SD radar 23 mi
- Watertown, SD radar 23 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 28 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 28 mi
- Clark, SD radar 33 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 33 mi
- Madison, SD radar 40 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 48 mi
- Huron, SD radar 51 mi