Platte Colony, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Platte Colony, Charles Mix County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Platte Colony?
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 Platte Colony, 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 Platte Colony get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Platte Colony, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Academy 2Ne weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 5.4 | 8.2 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 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 Platte Colony?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 120 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 Platte Colony | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 120 mi east | 12,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 128 mi southwest | 14,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 142 mi north-northeast | 16,600 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 Platte Colony
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 66 tornadoes within 25 miles of Platte Colony, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on July 24, 1971, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 13 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 267 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 22, 1993.
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 Platte Colony'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.
Platte Colony radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Platte Colony, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 120 miles east. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Platte Colony?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Platte Colony the lowest scan from KFSD is about 12,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Platte Colony 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 Platte Colony, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Platte, SD radar 15 mi
- Gregory, SD radar 22 mi
- Chamberlain, SD radar 25 mi
- Winner, SD radar 37 mi
- Wagner, SD radar 50 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 57 mi
- Parkston, SD radar 57 mi