Albert Lea, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Albert Lea, Freeborn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Albert Lea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 83 days in the Freeborn forecast zone and Freeborn County — the most common reported hazard around Albert Lea, mostly in January and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Mar 2026 | Apr 10, 2019 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | May 2026 | Aug 18, 2016 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 21 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2025 | Jun 11, 2008 · 3 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Apr 2022 | — |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | Jun 2025 | Sep 14, 2004 · $6.1 million 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 Freeborn forecast zone and Freeborn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Albert Lea get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Albert Lea, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Albert Lea 3Se weather station 4.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.7 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Albert Lea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 83 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 Albert Lea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 83 mi north | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 109 mi east | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDMX Des Moines, IA | 134 mi south | 15,200 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 Albert Lea
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 146 tornadoes within 25 miles of Albert Lea, 38 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which passed about 13 miles northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 26, 2025, which passed about 2 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 263 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.25-inch hail on June 17, 2009.
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 Albert Lea'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.
Albert Lea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Albert Lea, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 83 miles north. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Albert Lea?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Albert Lea the lowest scan from KMPX is about 7,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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