Timber Lake, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Timber Lake, Dewey County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Timber Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the Dewey forecast zone and Dewey County — the most common reported hazard around Timber Lake, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (82 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (50 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 82 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 50 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 41 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 37 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 2017 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 17 | Sep 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $2.9 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2017 | Jun 16, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jul 2024 | Jul 25, 2024 · $9,000 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 Dewey forecast zone and Dewey County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Timber Lake get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Timber Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Timber Lake weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (8.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 | 4.4 | 8.3 | 6.4 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Timber Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 94 miles north. 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 Timber Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 94 mi north | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 125 mi southwest | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 129 mi east | 14,200 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 Timber Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Timber Lake, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1983, which passed about 24 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 8, 2021, which touched down about 10 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 175 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 5, 2022.
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 Timber Lake'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.
Timber Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Timber Lake, SD?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 94 miles north. KUDX (Rapid City, SD) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Timber Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Timber Lake the lowest scan from KBIS is about 8,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Timber Lake 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 Timber Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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