Rapid City, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rapid City, Pennington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rapid City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 263 days in the Rapid City forecast zone and Pennington County — the most common reported hazard around Rapid City, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (145 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (59 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 263 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 145 | Jan 2026 | Nov 12, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Dec 2023 | May 11, 2005 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2023 | May 21, 2019 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 31 | Jul 2022 | Jun 5, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Blizzards | 19 | Nov 2019 | Nov 5, 2008 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Aug 2016 | Aug 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Rapid City forecast zone and Pennington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rapid City get?
A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to Rapid City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rapid City Wfo weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually March (10.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 5.3 | 9.1 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 2.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Rapid City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 20 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 Rapid City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 20 mi east | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 198 mi southeast | 28,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 217 mi south-southwest | 33,600 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 Rapid City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 46 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rapid City, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 11, 1991, which touched down about 9 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2023, which touched down about 14 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 1,545 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 245 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 8, 2020.
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 Rapid 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.
Rapid City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rapid City, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 20 miles east. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 198 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rapid City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rapid City the lowest scan from KUDX is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rapid 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 Rapid City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Box Elder, SD radar 7 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 10 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 13 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 27 mi
- Custer, SD radar 28 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 33 mi
- Lead, SD radar 33 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 41 mi
- Hot Springs, SD radar 47 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 52 mi