Wessington, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wessington, Beadle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wessington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 99 days in the Beadle forecast zone and Beadle County — the most common reported hazard around Wessington, mostly in July and August. Next come flooding (62 days) and high winds (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 99 | Jun 2026 | Aug 28, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 62 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $45 million damage |
| High winds | 46 | Mar 2026 | Feb 11, 2002 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | Nov 28, 2019 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 37 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 37 | Mar 2026 | Nov 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 23 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Aug 2025 | Jun 10, 2023 · $220,000 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 Beadle forecast zone and Beadle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wessington get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Wessington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Miller weather station 14.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 4.3 | 8.7 | 7.0 | 10.7 | 6.8 | 5.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Wessington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 71 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Wessington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 71 mi north | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 115 mi east-southeast | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 189 mi north-northwest | 26,500 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 Wessington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 57 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wessington, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF4 on June 18, 2014, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 25, 2023, which touched down about 15 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 323 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 41 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 3, 1971.
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 Wessington'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.
Wessington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wessington, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 71 miles north. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wessington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wessington the lowest scan from KABR is about 5,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wessington 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 Wessington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Miller, SD radar 15 mi
- Huron, SD radar 25 mi
- Redfield, SD radar 30 mi
- Chamberlain, SD radar 55 mi
- Clark, SD radar 56 mi
- De Smet, SD radar 57 mi
- Mitchell, SD radar 60 mi