Prairie City, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie City, Perkins County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie City?
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 Prairie City, 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.
Which radars cover Prairie City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 98 miles south. 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 Prairie City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 98 mi south | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 130 mi northeast | 14,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 213 mi east | 32,600 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 Prairie City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie City, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 25, 1972, which touched down about 12 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 21, 2015, which passed about 13 miles north of town.
Hail: 179 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on September 1, 1990.
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 Prairie City'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.
Prairie City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie City, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 98 miles south. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie City the lowest scan from KUDX 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 Prairie City 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 Prairie City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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