Spearfish, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Spearfish, Lawrence County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Spearfish?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 110 days in the Northern Foothills forecast zone and Lawrence County — the most common reported hazard around Spearfish, mostly in April and December. Next come high winds (85 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 110 | Dec 2024 | Apr 18, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| High winds | 85 | Dec 2024 | Jan 27, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 66 | Aug 2025 | Aug 1, 2000 · $9.5 million damage |
| Blizzards | 24 | Dec 2022 | Nov 5, 2008 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Aug 2024 | Jul 4, 2019 · $297,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jun 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2015 | Jul 12, 2015 · 1 death |
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 Foothills forecast zone and Lawrence County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Spearfish get?
A normal year brings about 71 inches of snow to Spearfish, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spearfish weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (14.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | 6.3 | 14.9 | 8.2 | 12.7 | 12.0 | 8.5 | 2.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Spearfish?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 55 miles east-southeast. 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 Spearfish | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 55 mi east-southeast | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 216 mi northeast | 33,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 236 mi south-southwest | 38,800 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 Spearfish
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 46 tornadoes within 25 miles of Spearfish, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on July 12, 1965, which passed about 19 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 10, 2020, which passed about 10 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 669 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 83 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 19, 2015.
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 Spearfish'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.
Spearfish radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Spearfish, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 55 miles east-southeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 216 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Spearfish?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Spearfish the lowest scan from KUDX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Spearfish 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 Spearfish, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Deadwood, SD radar 9 mi
- Lead, SD radar 10 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 12 mi
- Sturgis, SD radar 17 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 29 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 31 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 41 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 45 mi
- Custer, SD radar 51 mi