Ward, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ward, Moody County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ward?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 60 days in the Moody forecast zone and Moody County — the most common reported hazard around Ward, mostly in April and March. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (53 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 60 | Jul 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $16 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Mar 2024 | Oct 1, 1999 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 46 | Sep 2025 | May 5, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 38 | Dec 2025 | — |
| High winds | 37 | Mar 2026 | Oct 29, 1996 · $50,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 30 | Mar 2026 | Apr 11, 2019 · $840,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 17 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2022 | Nov 14, 1996 · 1 death · $400,000 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 Moody forecast zone and Moody County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ward get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Ward, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Flandreau weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 5.6 | 8.5 | 5.8 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 4.8 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ward?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 41 miles south-southwest. 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 Ward | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 41 mi south-southwest | 2,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 131 mi northwest | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 151 mi east-northeast | 18,300 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 Ward
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ward, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 7, 1993, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 30, 2022, which touched down about 24 miles south of town.
Hail: 254 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 28, 1986.
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 Ward'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.
Ward radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ward, SD?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 41 miles south-southwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ward?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ward the lowest scan from KFSD is about 2,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ward 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 Ward, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Flandreau, SD radar 10 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 14 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 19 mi
- Volga, SD radar 26 mi
- Dell Rapids, SD radar 26 mi
- Garretson, SD radar 30 mi
- Baltic, SD radar 30 mi
- Madison, SD radar 34 mi
- Crooks, SD radar 39 mi
- Brandon, SD radar 39 mi