Rolland Colony, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rolland Colony, Brookings County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rolland Colony?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 79 days in the Brookings forecast zone and Brookings County — the most common reported hazard around Rolland Colony, mostly in March and April. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (65 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (59 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 79 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 2019 · $22 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Jun 2026 | Jul 28, 2002 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Mar 2024 | Oct 1, 1999 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Feb 2025 | — |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | May 15, 1998 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 18 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2024 | Sep 22, 2010 · $500,000 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 Brookings forecast zone and Brookings County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rolland Colony get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Rolland Colony, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Brookings 2 Ne weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Rolland Colony?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 53 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 Rolland Colony | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 53 mi south | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 118 mi northwest | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 153 mi east-northeast | 18,800 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 Rolland Colony
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rolland Colony, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on July 7, 1955, which passed about 22 miles east-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 23, 2023, which touched down about 13 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 235 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 30 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 28, 1986.
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 Rolland 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.
Rolland Colony radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rolland Colony, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 53 miles south. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rolland Colony?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rolland Colony the lowest scan from KFSD is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rolland 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 Rolland Colony, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aurora, SD radar 6 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 10 mi
- Volga, SD radar 16 mi
- Flandreau, SD radar 21 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 29 mi
- Madison, SD radar 35 mi
- Dell Rapids, SD radar 36 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 41 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 44 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 47 mi