Vale, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vale, Butte County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 148 days in the Butte forecast zone and Butte County — the most common reported hazard around Vale, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (126 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (72 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 148 | Jun 2026 | Jul 23, 2001 · $213,000 damage |
| High winds | 126 | Jan 2026 | Apr 24, 1996 · $90,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 72 | Dec 2023 | Apr 18, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 26 | Dec 2022 | Mar 23, 2009 · $7.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 17 | Jul 2019 | Jun 5, 2008 · $2.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | May 2020 | Jun 17, 2014 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Jan 2006 | Nov 13, 1996 · $35,000 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 Butte forecast zone and Butte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vale get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Vale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Newell weather station 6.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 1.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Vale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 44 miles 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 Vale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUDX Rapid City, SD | 44 mi southeast | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 196 mi northeast | 28,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 232 mi southeast | 37,700 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 Vale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vale, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 18, 1963, which touched down about 23 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 6, 2024, which passed about 25 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 485 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 73 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 Vale'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.
Vale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vale, SD?
KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 44 miles southeast. KBIS (Bismarck, ND) is 196 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vale the lowest scan from KUDX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Vale 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 Vale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sturgis, SD radar 15 mi
- Spearfish, SD radar 22 mi
- Deadwood, SD radar 23 mi
- Belle Fourche, SD radar 23 mi
- Lead, SD radar 26 mi
- Piedmont, SD radar 28 mi
- Summerset, SD radar 30 mi
- Box Elder, SD radar 38 mi
- Rapid City, SD radar 39 mi
- Custer, SD radar 60 mi