St. Francis, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. Francis, Todd County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. Francis?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 131 days in the Todd forecast zone and Todd County — the most common reported hazard around St. Francis, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (78 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (57 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 131 | Jun 2026 | Aug 15, 2004 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 78 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Dec 2023 | Dec 13, 2022 · 5 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Aug 2022 | Jun 8, 2004 · $200,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | May 2019 | Mar 23, 2019 · $250,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jun 2004 | Jun 8, 2004 · $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 Todd forecast zone and Todd County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. Francis get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to St. Francis, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kilgore 1Ne weather station 13.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 4.6 | 9.2 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover St. Francis?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 84 miles south-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 St. Francis | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 84 mi south-southeast | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 118 mi northwest | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 202 mi northeast | 29,700 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 St. Francis
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 69 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. Francis, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 15, 1962, which touched down about 18 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 20, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 306 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 46 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 20, 2025.
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 St. Francis'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.
St. Francis radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. Francis, SD?
KLNX (North Platte, NE), about 84 miles south-southeast. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. Francis?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. Francis the lowest scan from KLNX is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for St. Francis 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 St. Francis, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mission, SD radar 17 mi
- Winner, SD radar 55 mi