Stratford, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Stratford, Brown County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Stratford?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 144 days in the Brown forecast zone and Brown County — the most common reported hazard around Stratford, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (134 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (65 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 144 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 134 | Oct 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $36 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Apr 2026 | Apr 10, 2013 · 1 death |
| High winds | 56 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 50 | Jan 2026 | Jan 25, 2018 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 49 | Feb 2026 | Dec 16, 1996 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jul 2025 | May 5, 2007 · $5.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jul 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 Brown forecast zone and Brown County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Stratford get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Stratford, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Stratford 7Sw weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 3.2 | 10.7 | 5.2 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Stratford?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 11 miles north-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 Stratford | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 11 mi north-northwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 143 mi south-southeast | 16,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 155 mi northwest | 19,100 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 Stratford
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Stratford, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which passed about 10 miles northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 13, 2025, which touched down about 7 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 323 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 15, 1987.
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 Stratford'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.
Stratford radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Stratford, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 11 miles north-northwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Stratford?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Stratford the lowest scan from KABR is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Stratford 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 Stratford, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aberdeen, SD radar 13 mi
- Groton, SD radar 14 mi
- Redfield, SD radar 32 mi
- Webster, SD radar 38 mi
- Clark, SD radar 41 mi
- Britton, SD radar 42 mi