Sturgis, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sturgis, Meade County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sturgis?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 246 days in the Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills forecast zone and Meade County — the most common reported hazard around Sturgis, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (89 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 246 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2010 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 89 | Dec 2025 | Apr 30, 2011 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Mar 2024 | Apr 18, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 26 | Jun 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Aug 2023 | Jun 4, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Dec 2023 | Nov 5, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | Sep 2000 | — |
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 Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills forecast zone and Meade County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sturgis get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Sturgis, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Meade weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 5.3 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sturgis?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 39 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 Sturgis | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 39 mi east-southeast | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 210 mi northeast | 31,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 225 mi southeast | 35,600 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 Sturgis
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 49 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sturgis, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 11, 1991, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 10, 2020, which passed about 13 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 981 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 146 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 Sturgis'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.
Sturgis radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sturgis, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 39 miles east-southeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 210 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sturgis?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sturgis the lowest scan from KUDX is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sturgis 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 Sturgis, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Deadwood, SD radar 11 mi
- Lead, SD radar 14 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 15 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 17 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 17 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 25 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 27 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 29 mi
- Custer, SD radar 45 mi