Balaton, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Balaton, Lyon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Balaton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 66 days in the Lyon forecast zone and Lyon County — the most common reported hazard around Balaton, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and high winds (45 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 66 | Feb 2026 | Jan 29, 2001 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2026 | Jul 1, 2011 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 45 | May 2026 | Jan 21, 2005 · $300,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 40 | Feb 2025 | Jan 29, 1996 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 40 | Mar 2026 | Mar 1, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 33 | Aug 2025 | Jun 1, 2019 · $28 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 22 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Aug 2025 | Jul 3, 2018 · $155,000 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 Lyon forecast zone and Lyon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Balaton get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Balaton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tracy weather station 11.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 5.9 | 10.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Balaton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 62 miles 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 Balaton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 62 mi southwest | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 121 mi east-northeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 151 mi northwest | 18,300 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 Balaton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of Balaton, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 13, 1968, which passed about 7 miles southeast of town and caused 9 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 10, 2023, which touched down about 18 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 288 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 28, 1986.
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 Balaton'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.
Balaton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Balaton, MN?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 62 miles southwest. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Balaton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Balaton the lowest scan from KFSD is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Balaton 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 Balaton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tracy, MN radar 12 mi
- Tyler, MN radar 13 mi
- Marshall, MN radar 15 mi
- Slayton, MN radar 18 mi
- Minneota, MN radar 23 mi
- Pipestone, MN radar 27 mi
- Edgerton, MN radar 28 mi
- Cottonwood, MN radar 28 mi
- Fulda, MN radar 28 mi
- Canby, MN radar 39 mi