Big Falls, MN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Falls, Koochiching County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Falls?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 70 days in the Koochiching forecast zone and Koochiching County — the most common reported hazard around Big Falls, mostly in March and December. Next come extreme cold & wind chill (62 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 62 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | Jul 2025 | Jul 11, 2008 · $5,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Jan 2013 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jul 2022 | Jul 1, 2022 · $2.4 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2005 | Aug 16, 1998 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jul 2010 | — |
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 Koochiching forecast zone and Koochiching County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Falls get?
A normal year brings about 55 inches of snow to Big Falls, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Littlefork 10 Sw weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (11.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 10.6 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 5.1 | 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 Big Falls?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 119 miles southeast. 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 Big Falls | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 119 mi southeast | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 169 mi west-southwest | 22,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 230 mi south | 37,200 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 Big Falls
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Falls, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F2 on September 1, 1973, which crossed near town. The most recent was an F0 on August 9, 1993, which touched down about 22 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 27 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 16, 1998.
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 Big Falls'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.
Big Falls radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Falls, MN?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 119 miles southeast. KMVX (Grand Forks, ND) is 169 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Falls?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Falls the lowest scan from KDLH is about 12,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Big Falls 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 Big Falls, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.