Lemmon, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lemmon, Perkins County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lemmon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 151 days in the Northern Perkins forecast zone and Perkins County — the most common reported hazard around Lemmon, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (149 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 151 | Jun 2026 | Aug 11, 1999 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 149 | Jan 2026 | Feb 26, 1999 · $35,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 61 | Mar 2024 | Oct 26, 1996 · $30,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 27 | Apr 2023 | Mar 23, 2009 · $4.2 million damage |
| Flooding | 15 | May 2019 | Jun 5, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Aug 2023 | Jul 15, 2001 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Jan 2006 | Nov 13, 1996 · $200,000 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 Northern Perkins forecast zone and Perkins County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lemmon get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Lemmon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lemmon weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (8.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.2 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lemmon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 88 miles northeast. 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 Lemmon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 88 mi northeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 130 mi south-southwest | 14,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 180 mi north-northeast | 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 Lemmon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lemmon, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F2 on July 17, 1969, which touched down about 3 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 182 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 30, 2021.
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 Lemmon'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.
Lemmon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lemmon, SD?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 88 miles northeast. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lemmon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lemmon the lowest scan from KBIS is about 7,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Lemmon 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 Lemmon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.