Letcher, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Letcher, Sanborn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Letcher?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 69 days in the Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County — the most common reported hazard around Letcher, mostly in May and June. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and high winds (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 69 | Aug 2025 | Mar 20, 2019 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | Jun 2026 | May 28, 2022 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 40 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 2000 · $17,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 35 | Nov 2025 | Mar 31, 1998 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 31 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 25 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2023 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.0 million 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 Sanborn forecast zone and Sanborn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Letcher get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Letcher, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mitchell weather station 10.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 4.1 | 10.2 | 5.6 | 8.3 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 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 Letcher?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 74 miles east-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 Letcher | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 74 mi east-southeast | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 108 mi north | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 182 mi southwest | 25,000 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 Letcher
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Letcher, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on June 18, 2014, which passed about 16 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 23, 2018, which touched down about 8 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 326 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 16, 1992.
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 Letcher'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.
Letcher radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Letcher, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 74 miles east-southeast. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Letcher?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Letcher the lowest scan from KFSD is about 6,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Letcher 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 Letcher, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mitchell, SD radar 13 mi
- Huron, SD radar 32 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 36 mi
- Salem, SD radar 40 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 45 mi
- Platte, SD radar 50 mi
- Madison, SD radar 52 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 52 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 57 mi
- Chamberlain, SD radar 59 mi