Tea, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tea, Lincoln County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 59 days in the Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around Tea, mostly in January and November. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (59 days) and flooding (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 59 | Dec 2025 | Apr 9, 2013 · $15 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 59 | Jun 2026 | Aug 28, 2021 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 58 | Jul 2024 | Jun 20, 2024 · 1 death · $12 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Jun 2024 | Jun 16, 2014 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 27 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 27 | 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 Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tea get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Tea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sioux Falls 3.4 Ese weather station 9.3 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 Tea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 10 miles north-northeast. 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 Tea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 10 mi north-northeast | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 149 mi south | 18,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 159 mi north-northwest | 19,900 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 Tea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 151 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tea, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1965, which passed about 20 miles southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 16 miles south of town.
Hail: 525 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on July 14, 1970.
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 Tea'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.
Tea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tea, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 10 miles north-northeast. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 149 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tea the lowest scan from KFSD is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Tea 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 Tea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harrisburg, SD radar 6 mi
- Sioux Falls, SD radar 7 mi
- Lennox, SD radar 8 mi
- Hartford, SD radar 13 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 14 mi
- Brandon, SD radar 15 mi
- Canton, SD radar 16 mi
- Parker, SD radar 16 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 21 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 24 mi