Lake Poinsett, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Poinsett, Hamlin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Poinsett?
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 Poinsett, 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 Poinsett get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Lake Poinsett, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hayti weather station 8.6 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 Poinsett?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 71 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 Poinsett | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 71 mi south-southeast | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 88 mi northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 175 mi east | 23,400 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 Poinsett
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 115 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Poinsett, 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 10 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 336 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 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 Poinsett'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 Poinsett radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Poinsett, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 71 miles south-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Poinsett?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Poinsett the lowest scan from KFSD is about 5,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Poinsett 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 Poinsett, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Watertown, SD radar 23 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 24 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 24 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 25 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 29 mi
- Clark, SD radar 37 mi
- Madison, SD radar 39 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 44 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 50 mi