Vermillion, SD Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Vermillion, Clay County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for VermillionWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Vermillion?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 48 days in the Clay forecast zone and Clay County — the most common reported hazard around Vermillion, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and flooding (44 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds48Jun 2026Jul 27, 1997 · $250,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms45Nov 2025—
Flooding44Jun 2024Jun 1, 2019 · $26 million damage
High winds36Mar 2026Apr 7, 2001 · $20,000 damage
Excessive heat28Jun 2026—
Extreme cold & wind chill27Dec 2025—
Blizzards25Mar 2026Nov 28, 2005 · $50,000 damage
Flash flooding18Jun 2024—

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 Clay forecast zone and Clay County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Vermillion get?

A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Vermillion, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Newcastle weather station 9.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.4 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.95.67.46.26.65.83.50.2

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Vermillion?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 57 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over VermillionView
KFSD
Sioux Falls, SD		57 mi north4,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KOAX
Omaha, NE		105 mi south-southeast10,300 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDMX
Des Moines, IA		179 mi east-southeast24,300 ftLimited — 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 Vermillion

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 111 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vermillion, 24 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 23, 2003, which passed about 19 miles south-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 30, 2022, which passed about 16 miles west of town.

Hail: 454 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 27, 2012.

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 Vermillion'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.

Vermillion radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Vermillion, SD?

KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 57 miles north. KOAX (Omaha, NE) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Vermillion?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vermillion the lowest scan from KFSD is about 4,200 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Vermillion 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 Vermillion, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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