Rapid Valley, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rapid Valley, Pennington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rapid Valley?
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 Valley, 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 Valley get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Rapid Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rapid City Rgnl Ap weather station 3.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 10.1 | 1.5 |
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 Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 15 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 Rapid Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 15 mi east-northeast | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 194 mi southeast | 27,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 219 mi south-southwest | 34,000 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 Rapid Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 44 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rapid Valley, 6 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 10 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2023, which touched down about 11 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 1,449 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 235 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 Valley'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 Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rapid Valley, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 15 miles east-northeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 194 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rapid Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rapid Valley the lowest scan from KUDX is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rapid Valley 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 Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Box Elder, SD radar 4 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 5 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 14 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 16 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 30 mi
- Custer, SD radar 32 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 37 mi
- Lead, SD radar 38 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 45 mi
- Hot Springs, SD radar 48 mi