Watertown, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Watertown, Codington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Watertown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 64 days in the Codington forecast zone and Codington County — the most common reported hazard around Watertown, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and flooding (52 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 64 | Nov 2025 | Feb 7, 2019 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2013 · $574,000 damage |
| Flooding | 52 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $6.9 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 51 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 44 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 34 | May 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Mar 2025 | Jan 10, 1996 · 3 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Aug 2025 | Mar 22, 2009 · $25,000 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 Codington forecast zone and Codington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Watertown get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Watertown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Watertown Rgnl Ap weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (8.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 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 Watertown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 72 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Watertown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 72 mi west-northwest | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 94 mi south-southeast | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 176 mi east | 23,600 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 Watertown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Watertown, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 21, 1961, which passed about 6 miles southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 333 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.75-inch hail on July 25, 2021.
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 Watertown'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.
Watertown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Watertown, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 72 miles west-northwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Watertown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Watertown the lowest scan from KABR is about 5,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Watertown 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 Watertown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Clark, SD radar 28 mi
- Milbank, SD radar 33 mi
- Webster, SD radar 35 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 41 mi
- Volga, SD radar 42 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 46 mi
- Aurora, SD radar 49 mi
- Sisseton, SD radar 52 mi
- Groton, SD radar 59 mi