Alvarado, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alvarado, Marshall County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alvarado?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 83 days in the West Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County — the most common reported hazard around Alvarado, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (77 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (73 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 83 | Mar 2026 | Apr 5, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 77 | Jun 2026 | May 5, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 73 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $21,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 25 | May 2024 | Apr 19, 1997 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 23 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Sep 2024 | Jul 4, 2020 · $275,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2009 | Apr 4, 1997 · $2.0 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 West Marshall forecast zone and Marshall County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alvarado get?
A normal year brings about 44 inches of snow to Alvarado, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Argyle weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 5.5 | 10.9 | 9.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 2.7 | 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 Alvarado?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 48 miles south-southwest. 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 Alvarado | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 48 mi south-southwest | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 178 mi west | 24,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 201 mi south-southwest | 29,400 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 Alvarado
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 89 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alvarado, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on August 11, 1958, which touched down about 22 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 8, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 240 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 7, 2015.
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 Alvarado'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.
Alvarado radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alvarado, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 48 miles south-southwest. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 178 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alvarado?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alvarado the lowest scan from KMVX is about 3,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Alvarado 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 Alvarado, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Warren, MN radar 11 mi
- East Grand Forks, MN radar 18 mi
- Crookston, MN radar 34 mi
- Thief River Falls, MN radar 38 mi
- Red Lake Falls, MN radar 40 mi