Appleton, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Appleton, Swift County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Appleton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 75 days in the Swift forecast zone and Swift County — the most common reported hazard around Appleton, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (55 days) and blizzards (43 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 55 | Jun 2026 | Jul 1, 1997 · $500,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 43 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 11 | Aug 2023 | Jul 18, 2011 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2010 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2006 | Apr 7, 2001 · $500,000 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 Swift forecast zone and Swift County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Appleton get?
A normal year brings about 51 inches of snow to Appleton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Milan 1Nw weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 9.5 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 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 Appleton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 117 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 Appleton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 117 mi south-southwest | 12,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 118 mi west | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 122 mi east | 13,100 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 Appleton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Appleton, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on May 17, 1996, which passed about 23 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 28, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 229 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 36 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 3, 1959.
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 Appleton'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.
Appleton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Appleton, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 117 miles south-southwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Appleton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Appleton the lowest scan from KFSD is about 12,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Appleton 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 Appleton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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