Pickstown, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pickstown, Charles Mix County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pickstown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 88 days in the Charles Mix forecast zone and Charles Mix County — the most common reported hazard around Pickstown, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (62 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 88 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2022 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 62 | Jun 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Mar 2024 | Dec 20, 2006 · $40,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 34 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 32 | Jun 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $36 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 29 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Aug 2024 | Jun 12, 2010 · $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 Charles Mix forecast zone and Charles Mix County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pickstown get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Pickstown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pickstown weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.5 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 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 Pickstown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 97 miles east-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 Pickstown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 97 mi east-northeast | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 129 mi southwest | 14,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 164 mi southeast | 21,000 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 Pickstown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 62 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pickstown, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 29, 1962, which passed about 8 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 21 miles west of town.
Hail: 321 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 52 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.88-inch hail on August 21, 2007.
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 Pickstown'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.
Pickstown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pickstown, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 97 miles east-northeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pickstown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pickstown the lowest scan from KFSD is about 9,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Pickstown 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 Pickstown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wagner, SD radar 12 mi
- Platte, SD radar 27 mi
- Tyndall, SD radar 34 mi
- Springfield, SD radar 35 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 35 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 46 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 52 mi
- Freeman, SD radar 59 mi
- Yankton, SD radar 59 mi