Barnesville, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Barnesville, Clay County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Barnesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 85 days in the Clay forecast zone and Clay County — the most common reported hazard around Barnesville, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (85 days) and blizzards (78 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 85 | Apr 2026 | Nov 27, 2005 · $1.3 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 85 | Jun 2026 | Jul 11, 2017 · $600,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 78 | Feb 2023 | Apr 5, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 61 | Jan 2026 | Dec 3, 2007 · 1 death |
| High winds | 30 | Jun 2026 | Nov 1, 1999 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Aug 2023 | Jun 19, 2000 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 23 | May 2024 | Apr 3, 2011 · 1 death |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Dec 2023 | 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 Clay forecast zone and Clay County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Barnesville get?
A normal year brings about 50 inches of snow to Barnesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rothsay weather station 13.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 6.9 | 10.7 | 11.4 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 4.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Barnesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 74 miles northwest. 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 Barnesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 74 mi northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABR Aberdeen, SD | 126 mi southwest | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 185 mi southeast | 25,700 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 Barnesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 98 tornadoes within 25 miles of Barnesville, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on June 20, 1957, which passed about 15 miles north of town and caused 10 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 20, 2022, which touched down about 15 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 309 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 48 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 11, 2004.
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 Barnesville'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.
Barnesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Barnesville, MN?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 74 miles northwest. KABR (Aberdeen, SD) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Barnesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Barnesville the lowest scan from KMVX is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Barnesville 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 Barnesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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