Albany, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Albany, Stearns County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Albany?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 112 days in the Stearns forecast zone and Stearns County — the most common reported hazard around Albany, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (91 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 112 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 2017 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 91 | Mar 2026 | Dec 10, 2010 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 39 | Jan 2026 | Jan 9, 2014 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jul 2025 | Apr 7, 2001 · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Dec 2021 | — |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 9 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Oct 2015 | May 6, 2009 · 1 death |
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 Stearns forecast zone and Stearns County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Albany get?
A normal year brings about 57 inches of snow to Albany, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Collegeville St John'S weather station 8.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 6.6 | 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 Albany?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 72 miles southeast. 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 Albany | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 72 mi southeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 140 mi northeast | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 177 mi southwest | 23,700 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 Albany
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Albany, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on September 3, 1980, which passed about 18 miles east-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 313 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on July 17, 2010.
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 Albany'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.
Albany radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Albany, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 72 miles southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 140 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Albany?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Albany the lowest scan from KMPX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Albany 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 Albany, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Avon, MN radar 6 mi
- Richmond, MN radar 12 mi
- Melrose, MN radar 13 mi
- St. Joseph, MN radar 13 mi
- Cold Spring, MN radar 13 mi
- Rockville, MN radar 16 mi
- Sartell, MN radar 17 mi
- Waite Park, MN radar 17 mi
- Rice, MN radar 18 mi
- Paynesville, MN radar 19 mi