Willow Lake, SD Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Willow Lake, Clark County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Willow Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 69 days in the Clark forecast zone and Clark County — the most common reported hazard around Willow Lake, mostly in July and June. Next come blizzards (59 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (56 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 69 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 59 | Feb 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 41 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 40 | May 2026 | Feb 10, 1996 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $16 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Jun 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Dec 2023 | Dec 25, 2016 · $33,000 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 Clark forecast zone and Clark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Willow Lake get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Willow Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bryant weather station 9.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 7.3 | 9.7 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 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 Willow Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 69 miles north-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 Willow Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 69 mi north-northwest | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 85 mi south-southeast | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 201 mi east | 29,300 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 Willow Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 97 tornadoes within 25 miles of Willow Lake, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on June 24, 2003, which passed about 15 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 287 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 5, 1964.
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 Willow Lake'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.
Willow Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Willow Lake, SD?
KABR (Aberdeen, SD), about 69 miles north-northwest. KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Willow Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Willow Lake the lowest scan from KABR is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Willow Lake 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 Willow Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- De Smet, SD radar 17 mi
- Clark, SD radar 18 mi
- Watertown, SD radar 31 mi
- Huron, SD radar 34 mi
- Volga, SD radar 41 mi
- Redfield, SD radar 46 mi
- Clear Lake, SD radar 47 mi
- Brookings, SD radar 48 mi
- Webster, SD radar 49 mi
- Madison, SD radar 50 mi