Wasta, SD Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for WastaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Wasta?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 263 days in the Pennington Co Plains forecast zone and Pennington County — the most common reported hazard around Wasta, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (216 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (62 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds263Jun 2026Jul 20, 2002 · $1.0 million damage
High winds216Jan 2026Apr 24, 1996 · $75,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms62Apr 2024Oct 26, 1996 · $75,000 damage
Flooding40Jun 2023May 21, 2019 · $2.0 million damage
Blizzards32Dec 2023Mar 23, 2009 · $2.5 million damage
Flash flooding31Jul 2022Jun 5, 2008 · $1.5 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage12Aug 2016Aug 3, 2011 · 1 death
Extreme cold & wind chill10Feb 2025—

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 Pennington Co Plains forecast zone and Pennington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Wasta get?

A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Wasta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wasta weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (6.4 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
1.14.25.63.86.45.53.70.1

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

Which radars cover Wasta?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 19 miles west-northwest. 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 WastaView
KUDX
Rapid City, SD		19 mi west-northwest1,100 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KLNX
North Platte, NE		174 mi south-southeast23,100 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KBIS
Bismarck, ND		204 mi north-northeast30,200 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 Wasta

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 24 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wasta, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF2 on June 19, 2015, which passed about 17 miles northwest of town.

Hail: 219 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 12, 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 Wasta'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.

Wasta radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Wasta, SD?

KUDX (Rapid City, SD), about 19 miles west-northwest. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 174 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Wasta?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wasta the lowest scan from KUDX is about 1,100 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

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