Ola, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ola, Brule County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ola?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Brule forecast zone and Brule County — the most common reported hazard around Ola, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (47 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (42 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jun 2026 | Jun 20, 2015 · $700,000 damage |
| High winds | 47 | Mar 2026 | Apr 13, 2022 · $43,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 33 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 26 | Dec 2025 | Jan 15, 1997 · 2 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Aug 2025 | Jul 15, 2011 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $11 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | — |
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 Brule forecast zone and Brule County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ola get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Ola, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chamberlain 5 S weather station 10.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 5.1 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 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 Ola?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 124 miles east. 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 Ola | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 124 mi east | 13,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 133 mi south-southwest | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 134 mi north-northeast | 15,200 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 Ola
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 60 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ola, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on May 8, 1965, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 276 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 27 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 13, 2012.
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 Ola'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.
Ola radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ola, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 124 miles east. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ola?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ola the lowest scan from KFSD is about 13,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ola 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 Ola, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chamberlain, SD radar 15 mi
- Platte, SD radar 24 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 28 mi
- Winner, SD radar 36 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 59 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 59 mi