Rowena, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rowena, Minnehaha County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rowena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County — the most common reported hazard around Rowena, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (88 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Jun 2026 | May 12, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 88 | Jul 2024 | Jun 1, 2019 · $28 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 61 | Dec 2025 | Nov 10, 2020 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 51 | May 2026 | Jun 16, 2004 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 41 | May 2026 | Oct 26, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Dec 2025 | Jan 19, 2025 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Jan 9, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 26 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Minnehaha forecast zone and Minnehaha County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rowena get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Rowena, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese weather station 5.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.0 | 11.9 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Rowena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 10 miles west-northwest. 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 Rowena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 10 mi west-northwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 152 mi south | 18,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 162 mi north-northwest | 20,600 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 Rowena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 126 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rowena, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 23 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 503 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 49 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 13, 1997.
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 Rowena'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.
Rowena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rowena, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 10 miles west-northwest. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 152 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rowena?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rowena the lowest scan from KFSD is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rowena 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 Rowena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Brandon, SD radar 5 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 9 mi
- Harrisburg, SD radar 10 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 14 mi
- Tea, SD radar 14 mi
- Canton, SD radar 15 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 16 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 19 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 20 mi
- Lennox, SD radar 21 mi