Belle Plaine, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Belle Plaine, Scott County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Belle Plaine?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 92 days in the Scott forecast zone and Scott County — the most common reported hazard around Belle Plaine, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (79 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 92 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 79 | Jul 2025 | May 15, 1998 · $170 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | Dec 22, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 16 | Mar 2019 | Jun 18, 2014 · $9.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Aug 2017 | Jul 13, 2013 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Scott forecast zone and Scott County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Belle Plaine get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Belle Plaine, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Jordan 1Ssw weather station 6.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 3.0 | 11.0 | 6.4 | 10.2 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 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 Belle Plaine?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 19 miles north-northeast. 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 Belle Plaine | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 19 mi north-northeast | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 139 mi east-southeast | 16,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 163 mi west-southwest | 20,900 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 Belle Plaine
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 107 tornadoes within 25 miles of Belle Plaine, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which passed about 11 miles north of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 4, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 429 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 60 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on August 24, 2006.
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 Belle Plaine'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.
Belle Plaine radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Belle Plaine, MN?
KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 19 miles north-northeast. KARX (La Crosse, WI) is 139 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Belle Plaine?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Belle Plaine the lowest scan from KMPX is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Belle Plaine 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 Belle Plaine, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Jordan, MN radar 7 mi
- Cologne, MN radar 10 mi
- New Prague, MN radar 11 mi
- Carver, MN radar 12 mi
- Le Sueur, MN radar 12 mi
- Norwood Young America, MN radar 13 mi
- Montgomery, MN radar 15 mi
- Waconia, MN radar 15 mi
- Arlington, MN radar 15 mi
- Chaska, MN radar 16 mi